LONDON, UK—A doctor who devoted her life to “helping others” was knocked down and killed by a car on her way to work at a London hospital.
Dr Jasjot Singhota, 30, was struck on a zebra crossing near her home in Tulse Hill, south London.
The anaesthetist was rushed by ambulance to King’s College Hospital where surgeons battled to save her life for eight hours before she was pronounced dead from internal bleeding and head injuries with her family at her bedside.
Dr Singhota had asked for her organs to be donated and her liver and pancreas have helped save the lives of critically ill patients.
The 30-year-old, who was based at St Thomas’ Hospital, studied medicine and physiology at the University of Edinburgh and was due to graduate from the Royal College of Anaesthetists in March.
She was the second of three sisters, who grew up in Bedford.
She had spent time working on conservation projects in Madagascar and children’s hospitals in New Zealand and had ambitions to work for Medicin Sans Frontieres helping people caught up in the world’s most dangerous warzones.
Her sister Nicole, 22, a student, said: “I don’t know what to do now, we were best friends. I feel a lot of my own pain for losing her but I’m more upset for my sister and what she didn’t get to achieve.
“She was so modest but her brain was amazing, she could have developed a cure for something. She was a role model and guided me so much through life.
“It’s such a waste, she worked so hard to get all her qualifications and graduate and she said it was finally time to relax and enjoy life.
“My parents are broken and are really struggling. It’s one thing to lose a sibling but worse to lose a child.
“It’s so typical of my sister on her very last day on Earth she was helping others.”
She said that as well as pursuing a medical career, her sister was a grade eight pianist and a passionate netball player.
Her elder sister Neha Santasalo, 32, urged witnesses to the collision at the junction of Thurlow Park Road and Birkbeck Hill at 7.30am on Wednesday, January 25 to come forward.
She said: “When we were little she was always getting into trouble for helping people she didn’t know, everything she has worked for was always about helping others.
“We didn’t realise there was so much love for her, we are completely overwhelmed by the amount of support of people pouring in. At the hospital where she worked they held a minute’s silence for her, she was adored by her colleagues.
“We’re at this point of absolute desperation. We need to know what happened to her.”
Hundreds of friends and colleagues have left messages and tributes on a Facebook page set up in Dr Singhota’s memory.
A former teacher wrote: “It may be a cliche but Jasjot packed more into her own short life than most people manage in a lifetime.
“A formidable student, a natural leader and talented sportswoman but, more importantly, a warm, gracious and caring person. The medical profession have lost a special doctor.”
A colleague at St Thomas’s added: “Jas was an absolute delight to work with: always smiling, friendly, quick-witted, efficient, and extremely competent.
“She was wonderful with patients, relatives, and staff alike. I always knew that it was going to be a good day on labour ward when Jas was on as well. She will be deeply missed by all of us here.”
A spokesman from Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are deeply saddened to hear about the tragic death of our colleague Dr Jasjot Singhota, and our thoughts are with her family and colleagues at this difficult time.
“Dr Singhota was a dedicated, committed and well respected member of staff, as well as an excellent doctor with a bright and promising future.”
A Scotland Yard spokesman said the driver of the car stopped at the scene and is assisting police with their enquiries. No arrests have been made.
Anyone who witnessed the collision or has any information is asked to contact police on 020 8543 5157.
Rab Rakh