FRIENDS, colleagues and those who have been touched by the death of much loved and well respected Bolton doctor raised just under £30,000 in 24 hours to provide practical help to his heartbroken wife and children.

Dr Nasir Khan, a consultant who was working at Dewsbury and District Hospital in West Yorkshire, died on Tuesday in the Royal Bolton Hospital from coronavirus.

He was working on the frontline in the fight against covid-19.

In a bid to help his family, during this unimaginably difficult time, a fundraising page on gofundme has been set up.

The doctor who set up the page said Dr Khan, who had been treating patients with the disease, ‘not to be afraid of this disease and to treat patients whole-heatedly’.

Dr Khalid Riaz, a Consultant Ophthalmologist,a close friend of the family, said he had been contacted by junior doctors from Dr Khan's ward who said "he was our consultant but also a friend" and that "he was the heart and soul of the ward".

He said the juniors told him in a message: "Even when the concerns about coronavirus came about, he would still thoroughly examine all his patients despite knowing the risks and working without any PPE.

"On ward rounds, he would personally examine the patients and would advise us to stay back to minimise our risks.

"Whenever we raised our concerns about the situation and work conditions, he would console us by advising us that it was our role and duty as doctors and Allah SWT had put us in this fortunate position to help others."

Writing on the gofundme page Dr Riaz said:“In this hard time, we can share our grief by raising financial support for the family (his wife & 3 kids).

“Please join me in this noble cause by donating generously as much as you can. We aim for 50 thousand but might go up if God willing.

Almost 600 people have donated in his memory, some leaving heartfelt tributes alongside their pledge.

One wrote: "My daughter was at Dewsbury and said what a fantastic doctor you were."

To donate in Dr Khan’s memory visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-the-family-of-dr-nasir-khan