Posted on 11/27/2003 4:41:45 AM PST by TaxRelief
MYSTERY surrounds the death of a gifted doctor who became a father for the first time only eight weeks ago and appeared to have everything to live for.
Dr Karia Shankar, 39, was killed instantly yesterday after walking in front of a lorry on the M60.
His death has shocked family and colleagues. The popular surgeon had been bringing specialist techniques to his work at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, in Pendlebury, Salford.
Earlier this year he won a prestigious medical award, the British Association of Paediatric Surgery medal of the Royal College of Surgeons, after he sat his final exam and achieved the highest marks in the country.
Dr Shankar's wife is a respected microbiologist and works at a hospital in Leeds. She said in a statement: "He was a well respected surgeon and a loving husband and father of a two-month-old baby boy."
Dr Shankar was killed instantly after parking his Fiat Punto on the hard shoulder of the M60 then walking into the carriageway where he was hit by the lorry.
His family had reported him missing from his home in Eccles on Monday morning.
He was understood to be depressed about other members of his family being ill.
Today tributes were being paid to Dr Shankar, who recently accepted a cheque for thousands of pounds from a charity at the hospital to help patients.
Kath Smith, head of the Research Equipment Fund charity at RMCH, said today: "He was a lovely man.
"I am devastated. I can't believe this has happened.
"He was doing pioneering work and we were so proud to have him.
"He had done specialist training in Australia and was bringing techniques to our hospital to help children with kidney problems.
"Only the other week our charity presented him with a cheque for equipment. In total we gave £18,000 to help with his work.
"He always appeared so cool and calm. He had not been at the hospital that long.
Operation
"I understand he only got a permanent post earlier this year.
"Dr Shankar's child had to have an operation at the age of four weeks. I asked him recently if the child was OK and he said `yes'."
A spokeswoman for the Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals Trust, which employed him, said: "The condolences of all our staff go to his family."
Dr Shankar, a urologist, was involved in keyhole surgery to remove dysfunctional kidneys which can potentially poison a child's blood if left in the body.
The surgery is a groundbreaking alternative to open surgery, which can leave serious scarring and require up to eight weeks of painful recovery.
Dr Shankar qualified as a doctor in Calcutta in 1990 and trained as a specialist paediatric surgeon in the UK.
He had previously worked at hospitals in Leeds and Liverpool.
The 55-year-old lorry driver was treated for shock.
Police have issued an appeal for witnesses and anyone with information about the tragedy is asked to phone 0161 856 2188.
The number of mystery deaths surrounding microbiologists is amazing.
My bet is that he found out that the new baby wasn't his.
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