9 April 2020 12:00 am
Dr. Anton Sebastianpillai, a consultant geriatrician, who qualified as a doctor in Sri Lanka in 1967 and specialised in treating the elderly at the Kingston Hospital, London has died after being tested positive for COVID-19, on Saturday, BBC reported.
Dr. Sebastianpillai, who was in his 70s, died on Saturday, four days after being admitted to Kingston Hospital.
The consultant geriatrician, who qualified as a doctor in Sri Lanka in 1967, had a long association with the hospital in south-west London. Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said he had last worked on March 20.
It was reported previously that Dr. Sebastianpillai had retired, but the BBC told this was not the case.
“It is with great sorrow I confirm the death of a consultant geriatrician who was part of the team at Kingston Hospital,” a trust spokeswoman said.
“Dr. Anton Sebastianpillai died on Saturday after having been cared for in the hospital’s intensive care unit since March 31, and we would like to extend our sincere condolences to his family.”
Dr. Sebastianpillai trained at the Peradeniya Medical School in Sri Lanka and qualified in 1967, according to the institution.
In an obituary notice, he was referred to as a “distinguished alumnus”.
In a tweet, acting Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said Dr. Sebastianpillai’s death was “very sad news” and he had been “privileged” to meet the “hugely respected” consultant and author.