TRIBUTES have been paid after the death of a dedicated and decorated surgeon who worked in Bolton for three decades.

Naganath Hanamanthrao Mahindrakar died aged 81 after he suffered a heart attack at his home in Chorley New Road, Heaton, on Friday, July 11.

Born in Dharwad in India in 1932, Mr Mahindrakar moved to Bolton in 1968 where he went on to become joint head of the Royal Bolton Hospital’s ear, nose and throat department from 1970 until his retirement in 1997.

Before joining the hospital, he had also worked in London and Manchester as an ear, nose and throat surgeon.

As well as being a dedicated and well-liked surgeon, Mr Mahindrakar was also actively involved in a range of charity work and through Rotary International he successfully established a charitable status blood bank in his home town of Dharwad.

His charitable efforts saw him awarded the highest accolade offered by Rotary International, the Paul Harris Fellow award for "service above self".

The doctor’s charitable endeavours continued here in Bolton, where he was passionately involved in a blood pressure checking campaign at Tesco in Horwich with the Rotary Club in a bid to target stroke prevention.

Mr Mahindrakar, leaves behind two sons, Arwin and Peter from his first marriage to Ursula Quirk — after Mrs Quirk died he married Theresa O’Grady in 1994.

His son Arwin, a 46-year old computer engineer from Heaton described him as a “dedicated surgeon who was loved by his patients”.

He added: “My father will be greatly missed by all those who knew him — he touched so many people in both his professional and personal life.”

Mr Mahindrakar’s funeral will be held at Overdale Crematorium West Chapel on Monday, July 28, from 2pm, those who knew him are invited to pay their respects.