TRIBUTE has been paid to a highly-respected Thurrock doctor who has died after contracting coronavirus.

Dr Kamlesh Kumar Masson, 78, was still working when he contracted the virus. He died earlier this month at University College Hospital London, after initially being treated at Basildon & Thurrock Hospital.

His son, Deepak, has penned this obituary and tribute to his father.

Dr Kamlesh Kumar Masson 31st March 1942 – 16th April 2020

Dr Kamlesh Masson came to the UK in 1973 after completing his medical training in India and working as a doctor in East Africa.

He worked in Barking, Ashby De La Zouch and Kings Lynn before settling with his family in Essex.

Kamlesh worked with Dr Motashaw at Heath Rd (Chadwell) and Balfour Rd (Grays) surgeries before founding the Milton Road Surgery in Grays (1985), where he practiced until 2017. He then went on to do locum work across Thurrock and Basildon until his last working day of March 17th 2020.

Dr Masson was a well-regarded clinician who practised medicine for over fifty years, serving the NHS for 47 years as GP and family doctor to several generations. A fine example of what frontline general practice was and should be.

Dr Masson's career came to unexpected end last month, when he unfortunately contracted COVID-19 while working. This caused bilateral pneumonia requiring admission to Basildon Hospital on March 22nd and then UCLH on March 31st 2020 (his 78th birthday), but tragically lost his battle with COVID-19 on April 16th 2020.

Kamlesh will be missed dearly by his family and anyone fortunate to have known this committed, generous and loving man.