Prayers for doctor and family killed in plane crash

Friends and colleagues have gathered to a family who died in the Air India plane crash.

More than 240 people were killed on Thursday when a Boeing 787 bound for Gatwick crashed shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad.

On Saturday at Derby Hindu Temple, prayers were said for Dr Prateek Joshi, a radiologist at Royal Derby Hospital, who was also onboard the flight along with his wife and 3 children.

Manog Ramtohal, who worked at the same trust, said: "I don't think we will ever get over it."

The plane was carrying 242 people when it crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport, in western India.

There were 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian on the flight.

Dr Joshi moved from India to Derby in 2021 and worked at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust for four years, the trust said.

Mr Ramtohal said: "It is like someone has been amputated from that department, it's something I don't think we will ever get over.

"Always generous, always willing to help, nothing was too little [for him to look after].

"He worked with politeness, courtesy and good manners.

"Part of the tragedy is he was getting better and better and we will never know what he could have achieved, what he could have given to the community."

Gisela Robinson, executive chief medical officer at Royal Derby Hospital, said: "Talking to the department yesterday it is clear how cherished he was by all of his colleagues and it has ripped a hole in the department.

"Kind, happy-go-lucky clinician who really knitted the department together.

"It felt right to come and pay our respects today."

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