The father of the first victim killed by bird flu spoke yesterday of the torment he still suffers over the loss of his three-year-old son.
Speaking before today's verdict on his son's death, Lam Hoi-ka's father said he did not attend the inquest last week because the ordeal would be too great.
'We still cannot overcome the pain. We do not want to face so many people in the court and talk about the death of my son.' Mr Lam, who did not want his full name revealed, told the Post in his first interview since his son's death two years ago that news reports kept reminding him of his son.
'It is a kind of torture to us every time there is news about bird flu on the TV.' Hoi-ka's death marked the start of the bird flu crisis which claimed five other victims. A total of 18 people were infected.
Coroner Paul Kelly will deliver the findings of the inquest into the deaths of five victims, including Hoi-ka.
Two years after losing his son, Mr Lam, who gave a written statement to the inquest, said he could not forget how the previously healthy boy had died just 10 days after catching the flu.