Family reveals renowned Leeds doctor killed in cycling tragedy was just weeks from retirement

Thankful parents, admiring colleagues and heartbroken family members have added their tributes to renowned paediatrician Dr Simon Newell, 59, from Leeds.

He was named by police as the cyclist who died after falling from his bike on Newlands Pass on Wednesday.

Officers have released further tributes from the father-of-three’s family today, while readers, friends and colleagues have thanked a man who made a “huge contribution to neonatal medicine in the UK”.

Dr Newell, who specialised in the care of newborn babies at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, leaves behind his wife, three children and a baby granddaughter, who recently turned one.

A family statement read: “He was an amazing, permanently positive person. He was due to retire in just five weeks time, and we were all extremely excited about spending more time with him. He will be sorely missed.”

Relatives added that over the years Dr Newell received countless cards from parents of babies born prematurely “thanking him for saving the lives of their little ones”.

Dr Newell was heavily involved in training students and junior doctors in Leeds and internationally, and published a series of textbooks during his career.

He also served as vice president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, acted as an expert witness in court and was a trustee of children’s charity SPARKS.

Readers have added their tributes to Dr Newell. Jonathan Isaacs wrote on the YEP website: “I was a patient of Dr Newell when I was younger.

“Never have I met a more caring professional, and this comes as total shock. My thoughts are with his family.”

On Facebook, Dawn Coulson wrote: “So sad to to be reading this..he was a lovely caring man..looked after my babies in neonatal unit at St James...thoughts and condolences with his family.”

Sharon Redding commented on Facebook: “So very sad, R.I.P. This doctor helped save my daughter 13 years ago.”

And Toni Kinkead tweeted: “One of the nicest doctors I’ve met. He was such a gentleman and so respected by everyone on the ward. So sad.”