Dr. Anannya Kar, a 51-year-old NHS doctor, died from injuries sustained during a cycling trip with colleagues in Switzerland. The accident occurred on May 24 near Bern, and she passed away two days later in a hospital there.
Her husband, Dr. Partha Kar, traveled from their home in Southsea, Portsmouth, after being informed of the crash. He was with his wife when she died. According to her husband, Dr. Kar was cycling at speed when the fall occurred. She was airlifted to a hospital in Bern.
Dr. Kar, a consultant gynecologist, was described by her husband as a passionate cyclist who had previously cycled in Italy and Switzerland. She had been working at Bournemouth Hospital in Dorset prior to the accident. The couple met in medical college in Calcutta, India, and moved to the UK around the turn of the millennium, both working for the NHS since then.
"She's left an incredible hole, there are memories everywhere and a lot of emptiness. I'm trying to cope day by day," said Dr. Partha Kar. He remembered his wife as "bubbly," "incredibly kind," and deeply focused on their two adult children, Anushka, 24, and Arjun, 20. He also highlighted her dedication to her work, including charity efforts in India focused on early cancer detection.
Colleagues and loved ones expressed shock and sadness at her passing. Dr. Kar was also known for her smile, her laugh, and her dedication to helping and mentoring others, particularly nurses. A memorial service is scheduled for July 12 at the couple's home.