REBHI Mohamed Eltreki devoted his life to helping others but today his family is grieving after his sudden death.The 54-year-old died from a heart attack after spending the evening with friends.

REBHI Mohamed Eltreki devoted his life to helping others but today his family is grieving after his sudden death.

The 54-year-old died from a heart attack after spending the evening with friends.

His shocked and devastated family and colleagues today paid tribute to a remarkable man who had lived his life for his work and had pioneered new medical practices.

Mr Eltreki was an associate specialist of gynaecology and obstetrics at Ipswich Hospital and was so well thought of that former patients would often come up to him in the streets to talk to him.

He was responsible for establishing the urodynamic service at the hospital in 1989 and introduced new techniques to deal with female urinary incontinence.

His wife ZiZi and two sons Islam, 24 and Rad, 22 are intensely proud of the man who proved himself to be a leading light in his field and would do anything for anyone.

Sitting in their Swinton Close home, Rad said: "He was very hard working and kind and generous.

"He just had a heart of gold."

Islam said how he was so enthusiastic about his work that he would travel the world to learn new techniques to bring them back to Ipswich and teach others.

Mr Eltreki's caring and helpful nature as well as his expertise in his field touched all patients and colleagues alike.

His dedication to his patient's cause was something that some of them never forgot.

Islam said: "The number of times we would walk through town and someone would come over and thank him and tell him how their children were getting along.

"He used to love it – even though he pretended to moan, deep down he loved it."

Mr Eltreki was born in Jerusalem, Palestine – a fact his sons said he was extremely proud of.

He had always wanted to follow a career in medicine and gained many different qualifications, starting with the study of Preliminary Natural Sciences at the University of Cairo in Egypt.

For a time he worked as a house surgeon and physician at the Cairo University Hospital Medical School before working his way up to Registrar of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at a Maternity hospital in Tripoli, Libya.

He moved to England in 1979 and worked in both Middlesex and Kent before starting at Ipswich Hospital in 1983, where he decided to settle with his family.

Rad said: "He thought Ipswich was a good place to bring his family up."

"He was always joking around and had a fabulous sense of humour.

"He will be dearly, dearly missed by everyone."

Mr Eltrekis's colleagues at Ipswich Hospital have also been deeply affected by his death.

Tom Boto, clinical director of maternity, gynaecology and reproductive health said that he had made a very significant contribution to the overall patient care.

He said: "Rebhi will be missed very much by the Directorate and a book of remembrance is currently in the Clinical Director's office for members of staff, general practitioners and patients to sign.

"We are also arranging a memorial gathering for staff to attend in a few weeks time."

Mr Eltrekis died last Saturday. His funeral was held yesterday.