Royal Liverpool Hospital surgeon Ali Bakran dies snorkelling in Maldives

Sep 3 2010 by Laura Jones, Liverpool Echo

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Ms Shaw said: “He gave me the nickname ‘Chip’ because I looked like I had chipmunk cheeks when I was on medication.

“He had a great sense of humour. He was professional at the same time, but you could have a bit of banter with him.

“He transformed and saved so many lives.”

Outside the operating theatre, the surgeon fought for better opportunities for underprivileged students dreaming of a career in medicine, setting up the charity Aequitas to help make the profession more accessible.

Professor John Ashton, the North West regional director of public health and fellow charity trustee, said: “He was a man who had quite humble origins overseas and he was very committed to improving access to medical school among people from poor backgrounds.

“He wanted other kids to have the same chances as he had.

“The problem is 70% of pupils come from professional backgrounds and that was why he took the initiative to set up Aequitas.”

Mr Bakran jnr added: “He was very much working class, but he felt privileged because of his grammar school education.

“I think he felt a debt to society because while the people around him were in manual jobs he was able to get so much more from the system.

“He was a great believer in the NHS, he did have a strong sense of social justice.”

“Aequitas was going to be his baby to nurture in his retirement.”

laura.jones@liverpool.com