A GP from Belfast has died following a motorsports race last weekend in County Down.
Dr Paul Conn, 60, passed away after a fatal crash during a race in he was competing at the Kirkistown racing circuit on Saturday 27 July.
Dr Conn was a GP partner at Ballygomartin Group Practice in Belfast.
His colleague Dr Simon Hutchinson, a GP partner at the practice, said Dr Conn loved racing cars when he wasn’t practising.
He said: ‘Outside of the practice, that’s what he loved doing to unwind.’
Colleagues, friends and patients posted condolences on social media, describing Dr Conn as a ‘true gentleman’ who helped thousands of people throughout his career.
BMA GP Committee chair for Northern Ireland Dr Alan Stout said: ’We are shocked and saddened by the sudden death over the weekend of our dear friend and colleague, Dr Paul Conn.
’As well as being a highly respected GP and clinician, Paul was an active member of the BMA for 20 years, serving on both Northern Ireland GPC and the LMC. During this time he worked tirelessly for primary care across Northern Ireland. He will be very much missed by his friends and colleagues in both primary and secondary care here.
’Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends.’
Northern Ireland RCGP chair Dr Grainne Doran said: ‘All at the Royal College of GPs in Northern Ireland are deeply saddened to hear of the sudden death of Dr Paul Conn.
’He was highly respected in the GP community in Northern Ireland and contributed significantly to general practice as a profession. We extend our sympathies to his family, friends and colleagues.’
Dr Conn was a member of the 500 motor racing club of Ireland since 1996, and in 2018, the club said Dr Conn seemed to reach ’a new level of skill,’ winning in the first roadsports race of May.
