NHS doctor dies on a cycling holiday with colleagues in Switzerland after 'falling at speed' from her bike

By ANDY DOLAN, GENERAL REPORTER Published: 11:11, 29 June 2026 | Updated: 11:23, 29 June 2026 An NHS doctor has died on a cycling holiday with colleagues in Switzerland after 'falling at speed' from her bike. Dr Anannya Kar, 51, died from her injuries two days after the crash near Bern, leaving an 'incredible hole' in the lives of her loved ones. Her husband, Dr Partha Kar, rushed to her from their home on the south coast after receiving a phone call telling him that she had fallen, and was with her when she died. The consultant gynaecologist used to cycle every day at home in the UK, and was working at Bournemouth Hospital in Dorset when the accident happened on May 24. Partha, 52, said: 'She had a big passion for cycling - she had been recently to Italy (to cycle). 'She had also gone to Switzerland, Lucerne, Bern, that's where she had gone with colleagues.' The diabetes consultant added: 'I think, from what I understand, she fell at speed.' She was airlifted to a hospital in Bern, where he rushed to see her after being told she had been in an accident. Dr Anannya Kar 'fell at speed' according to her husband, while cycling in Switzerland Dr Partha Kar said his late wife was 'a wonderful mum to two amazing children' Partha said: 'She had fantastic care but they couldn't save her. I flew out after I was told and was there when she died.' The couple share two adult children - Anushka, 24, and Arjun, 20. They have been together since they met at the age of 18 in a medical college in Calcutta, India, as it was then known. They moved to the UK around the turn of the millennium, and had both worked for the NHS since then. Partha said: 'I've not known anyone else since I was 18, I'm now 52. 'She's left an incredible hole, there are memories everywhere and a lot of emptiness. I'm trying to cope day by day.' Speaking about his wife's personality, Partha said she was 'bubbly' and 'incredibly kind', and 'very focused on her kids'. He told The News in Portsmouth: 'I always said my success is down to her. The way she kept me grounded was very important. She was a wonderful mum to two amazing children. She gave them fantastic values and was a proud mum.' 'I have been very fortunate in my career, and I can't think of (doing) anything without her.' Anannya went to India twice a year to do charity work, and was highly regarded for her work on early cancer detection. He said: 'In her work, she was very clear about what needed to happen, she always used to have discussions about what's the right thing in the hospital. 'The big thing that everybody has talked about is her smile and her laugh, and she had this incredibly boisterous laugh all the time about anything. 'I think the kids have been very fortunate to have her as their Mum in their lives, and I have two wonderful children because of her and I can see her in them.' Partha said that she was a 'great family person and doctor' and wanted to help people, 'especially nurses, who she wanted to help teach and mother'. Following her death, Partha said Anannya's colleagues and those who knew her were left 'overwhelmed and shocked'. He said: 'The reaction has been amazing. The love and support has been exemplary. My work has been unbelievably kind. It restores your faith in humanity.' He added that Anannya used to cycle every day, and often walked the family dogs by the seaside in Portsmouth. She would also host cooking events at a local cafe, where she showcased her Bengali culinary skills. A memorial for friends and family will be held on July 12 at the couple's home in Southsea, Portsmouth. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.