Tamil DNA's video: Dr Simmon Dr Simmon Corona TamilDNA

Dr Simon was the managing director of New Hope Hospital in Chennai. The 55-year-old neurosurgeon has helped hundreds of patients in his lifetime, and is remembered by people around him as a person who put humanity first. But in his death, Dr Simon was denied the same by residents of the city that he served, thanks to uncontrolled rumours around the spread of COVID-19. In fact, his family couldn’t even say a final goodbye to the doctor, who died due to COVID-19 and likely contracted the disease from patients he was caring for. “We were hit with wooden logs and stones when we tried to bury him,” says Dr Pradeep, a friend of Dr Simon, who was the person who buried the neurosurgeon in the dead of the night after hours of frightening retaliation from people who were spurred by fear, instead of empathy. Dr Simon passed away at the Apollo Hospital in Vanagaram in Chennai on Sunday. He had been admitted in early April after exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. Doctors who worked with him say he may have contracted the virus from a patient. At 9 pm on Sunday, his body was handed over to the family, and they were initially planning to take an ambulance to a burial ground in TB Chatram in Kilpauk for the last rites. Dr Simon’s wife and son were accompanied by Dr Pradeep, a few other doctors who had worked closely with the deceased, Corporation officials and two ambulance drivers. The violence “But we were told not to head to TP Chatram because a crowd of over 100 people had gathered near the burial ground in a bid to stop us,” says Dr Pradeep. According to the police, local civic workers had informed the residents about the burial that was planned. And frightened by rumours that this could lead to the spread of the virus, people in the neighbourhood had gathered to protest. The ambulance carrying Dr Simon’s body was then diverted to the Velangadu cemetery to avoid any altercations. However, at this burial ground, the deceased and his family and friends were met with sticks and stones. “The JCB had dug about 6 feet into the ground, when 50-60 people came towards us,” Dr Pradeep recalls, “They began hitting us with wooden logs and throwing stones at us. They damaged the ambulance and hit the drivers on the head with logs. They hit the doctors and the sanitary inspectors as well. The deceased’s family was also not spared. The Corporation staff were forced to flee the spot,” says Dr Pradeep. “It was so bad, that we were forced to leave his body there and flee,” says an emotional Dr Bhagyaraj, in a video he released about the incident. Family, friends, corporation staff…while everyone had to run to protect themselves from the angry mob, Dr Pradeep managed to get Dr Simon’s body into the ambulance with the help of two ambulance drivers. And the three of them set off with the body to get away from the people who were attacking them. “The two ambulance drivers were bleeding profusely and were losing too much blood. After one point, they said they were feeling faint and had to stop,” says Dr Pradeep. Following this, the drivers were dropped off at Kilpauk Medical College for treatment********************************************************************* Like us on facebook : https://www.facebook.com/tamildnanews Twitter : https://twitter.com/tamildna Instagram : ********************************************************************* Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. *********************************************************************