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It was with great sadness that we learnt that Health24’s CyberDoc, Dr Anrich Burger, passed away on Saturday 2 November, 2013.
Dr Burger was a hugely popular Expert on Health24.com for over 5 years, helping our users with general health, lifestyle, therapy, equipment and care management, covering various disabilities.
His fiancée, Jacqueline Mostert, writes about his remarkable life and contributions:
Anrich was involved in a motor vehicle accident in June 2005 in Botswana and was diagnosed as a quadriplegic with a C5/C6 spinal cord injury. He was no longer able to practise and started working for Health 24 towards the end of 2007.
Anrich was born in Springs on the 14th of September 1970 and grew up in Port Elizabeth. He was a Craven Week rugby player and also a good swimmer.
He completed his schooling at Framesby High School in 1988 and graduated from Stellenbosch University, where he received his MBChB degree in 1994.
After graduation Anrich worked at both Tygerberg and Conradie Hospitals in Cape Town. Prior to his accident he was one of a two man practice in the Strand and also did a stint as a locum in Canada at the Dawson’s Creek State Hospital.
Prior to his accident Anrich was a very active person and enjoyed all outdoor activities. He especially enjoyed water skiing, tennis, squash, 4x4-ing and camping and was a loyal rugby supporter to the end.
He was a loving, caring person and always went out of his way to help other people. Even during his last years while suffering from severe neuropathic pain, he made time to assist people in need.
He had a big heart and a lot of empathy with people with medical problems. He was a highly intelligent man and a brilliant doctor, and had a great sense of humour.
Anrich was also very proud of the work he did for Health24 and became very concerned and stressed when he was unable to attend to the posts regularly, because of severe neuropathic pain and other complications.
He always said that he was worried that someone might need urgent advice or that their lives might be in danger and that there would be no-one to tell them to immediately consult a doctor.
Anrich will be missed by everyone who knew him, and I have yet to meet anyone on whose life he did not have a positive impact.
Thank you once again to Health 24 for giving him a chance when nobody else was willing to do so.
Jacqueline Mostert
On learning of his disability through a magazine article, one user aptly praised him in a Q&A with the words: “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.”
We at Health24 would like to use this opportunity to express our sincere condolences to his family and all those who were close to him. He will be sorely missed and fondly remembered by all of us.
The Health24.com Team
Picture: Flowers from Shutterstock
