'Karl died the way he lived'

Karl Chircop "died the way he had lived - giving until the very end," his wife Adriana told The Times yesterday.

She was speaking from the London hospital where the 43-year-old family doctor was transferred following a cerebral haemorrhage on August 3, and where the machines that were keeping him alive were switched off on Sunday evening.

His organs have been donated and he died helping someone else, she said, after a pause to muster her strength. "He was helping people all his life... until the very end."

The only consolation Mrs Chircop could derive from the tragedy was that "at least, someone is going to gain something from all this..."

She, in turn, had lost everything, and no words could quantify that loss, she answered, breaking down for a moment on the other end of the telephone.

Putting up a brave front, Ms Chircop said she was trying to get the paperwork done, so that "we can come down (to Malta)".

Her children returned from the UK soon after their father's death but Mrs Chircop stayed on, in the company of her mother-in-law Marion, and Dr Chircop's sister, to sort out the complicated bureaucracy to bring her husband's body back to Malta. She returned early this morning.

Mrs Chircop did not yet have an idea when the funeral would be held as she was not sure when the procedure would be completed.

"I do not even know when his body is going to return," she said in the early afternoon. Friday has been mentioned, but the family is trying to bring him back sooner.

Referring to her husband's condition after he collapsed into a deep coma on August 3 and the ray of hope that filled their lives again about a fortnight later, when he seemed to be making progress, she explained: "For those who are not in the situation, it is difficult to understand...

"The thing is I thought that when he opened his eyes, he would continue to come out of it. However, opening your eyes does not mean you are out of the coma, or even regaining consciousness.

"But your hope drives you, you know... He could have recovered, but in these situations, infections are the enemy. The longer you stay in the ITU, the higher the chances of succumbing to something.

"All I can say is that he really fought it, and we fought it with him. But we had to give up..."

Dr Chircop died surrounded by his family at the National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery in London. "We were all around him," his wife said.

"Given the circumstances, my children (Jan, Francesca, Christian and Keith) are being very strong, I think... We gain our strength from him, at the end of the day, because he gave us so much..."

Ms Chircop has only one little request: "One day, do you know what I would like because I have been away...? Just all the articles wherever he was mentioned on a disc for me," she says, explaining that she would like to keep them.

Messages continued to stream into timesofmalta.com and the political parties expressed their sorrow and solidarity with the family of Dr Chircop as soon as the news broke on Sunday afternoon.

In their first meeting after the announcement of Dr Chircop's death, the members of the Labour Parliamentary Group observed a minute's silence yesterday afternoon. Together with Dr Joseph Muscat they paid tribute to Dr Chircop and were the first to sign a book of condolences at the foyer of the MLP headquarters, which is open for signing until Sunday.

From yesterday to tomorrow, the flags of the party clubs and its headquarters will be flying at half mast.

During yesterday evening's parliamentary sitting, the House commemorated the passing away of the popular MP, who always had a joke to tell.

Condolences also came from the Association of ex-MPs, while the Medical Association of Malta expressed their deep sadness at the loss of the family doctor, describing him as "an exemplary and dedicated member of the medical profession, who was liked and respected by all.

"A true gentleman, he will not be forgotten by his many friends, colleagues and patients," the association said.

The General Workers' Union and the Union Ħaddiema Maqgħudin also sent their condolences to the family for the loss of such a "worthy" person. The UĦM said it would always appreciate Dr Chircop's contribution to the country in the field of employment and, more recently, health.

Dr Chircop, who became a doctor in 1987, had been elected to Parliament since 1996. A month before he collapsed when he had a stroke in his garage, Opposition leader Joseph Muscat had appointed him MLP spokesman for health.