Panaji: Environmentalist and Catholic Priest Fr Bolmax Pereira passed away after suffering a heart attack at Goa Medical College and Hospital near here on Tuesday.
Medical Superintendent of Goa Medical College and Hospital Dr Rajesh Patil told GNH that Fr Pereira who was undergoing treatment at Super speciality facility of the hospital passed away on Tuesday morning.
Dr Patil said that the priest breathed his last at 4.30 am.
The 50-year-old priest had suffered heart attack on Saturday at Vasco Railway station when he was on his way for a picnic along with the parishioners.
Fr Pereira, who spearheaded several environmental agitation including opposition to the double tracking of the Railway and destruction of Mollem forests to make way for the electricity project, was serving as a priest at St Francis Xavier Church, Chicalim in South Goa near Vasco.
Sources close to the priest said that he fainted at the Railway station after which he was referred to a private hospital in Vasco and then to Goa Medical College and Hospital on the same day (Saturday).
A senior doctor attached to the GMCH said that the priest was on the life supporting system, after he suffered another massive heart attack on Saturday night inside the hospital.
State health minister Vishwajit Rane had visited the hospital on Monday morning to inquire about the health of the priest.
Rane had written on his X handle “Called on Fr Bolmax at 7.45 am this morin and once again reassured him that the Government of Goa is fully committed to ensuring the best possible treatment and care for him at Goa Medical College.”
In his post, Rane had said “the best treatment protocols are being filled, and the state government along with the Health Ministry, will continue to extend every support required. The entire team, under the able guidance of Dr Guruprasad (Naik) is working towards the care and recovery of Fr Bolmax.”
