Community mourns loss of Kamloops radiologist who died 7 weeks after bike crash

The medical community in Kamloops is grieving the death of a local cyclist and radiologist.

Andrew van der Westhuizen, 36, died Thursday following a crash in the city on May 11. He was cycling on a divided multi-use pathway when he collided with a commercial vehicle turning across the path.

After being airlifted to Vancouver for surgery, he succumbed to his injuries on June 30.

His wife, two children and many colleagues are reeling from the loss of the former radiologist whose death is having a community-wide impact.

B.C.'s health-care system has been dealing with staffing shortages that have led to closures and cancellations across the province. 

Dr. Vedd Vipal, the department head of medical imaging at Royal Inland Hospital, worked closely with Andrew.

He says losing a physician, especially a specialist, is a "tremendous loss" for the community and managing in an already strapped health-care situation will be a struggle.

"We'll be able to push through. It's going to be hard. It'll be challenging."

Stephanie Hintz, an ultrasound technologist, said Andrew was a huge asset to the team and will be greatly missed,not only by the staff he worked with, but by his patients.

"He was one of the few doctors I've ever worked with that really connected with the patients … he was always able to show that he cared."

Andrew's wife, Jen van der Westhuizen, said during the seven weeks he was in hospital in Vancouver, the couple would communicate primarily via video chat and through hand motions and facial expressions.

"He would blow … kisses and 'I'd say, is your mouth sore?' And he'd shake his head, and I'd say, 'Are you giving me kisses?' And he'd say, 'Yes,' through nodding." 

She said her husband would ask through gestures about the kind of care he was receiving and how his children were doing.

"He had a lot of trauma that we were very hopeful that he would be able to push through, and if anybody could do it, it was him."