THE medical community is in shock after the death of a well-respected surgeon and family man from Worcestershire who was found hanging at his home.

Father-of-two Alexander Reading, aged 45, of Grafton Flyford, between Worcester and Inkberrow, was found in the garage at his home on Wednesday.

Yesterday colleagues said they were shocked by his death, that he would be deeply missed and his death represented a loss to patients in Worcestershire.

Mr Reading worked at the Spire South Bank Hospital in Bath Road in Worcester, Alexandra Hospital in Redditch and at the joint clinic in Droitwich.

An inquest was opened into his death yesterday.

Dr Stephen Digby, consultant anaesthetist at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and a friend and colleague of Mr Reading, said: “We were shocked and deeply saddened by the news.

“Alex was well respected throughout the trust and he will be sorely missed by his many friends and colleagues.

"His knowledge and expertise will be a great loss, both to Worcestershire patients and to the Alexandra Hospital and other hospitals where he worked.

"Our thoughts are with Alex’s family.”

Mr Reading, a consultant orthopaedic and trauma surgeon with Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, first qualified in 1990 after attending medical school and training in orthopaedic surgery at various sites across the country.

He studied medicine at Glasgow University Medical School and undertook a fellowship in hip surgery at Bristol.

As a consultant orthopaedic and trauma surgeon he specialised in primary and revision hip replacement surgery and knee replacement surgery.

He had performed and published research projects relating to hip replacement surgery and the prevention of infection, pursued research projects with the aim of improving the service provided to patients.

He was a member of the General Medical Council, British Medical Association, British Orthopaedic Association, British Orthopaedic Research Society, British Hip Society and a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons.

Mr Reading spent his spare time as assistant coach to a boys’ football team and kept fit playing cricket, tennis and golf.

He had a specific interest in hip surgery which began in Leicester where he spent two years researching how to prevent infection in joint replacement and the best way to secure total hip replacements.

Mr Reading was appointed as a consultant in Worcestershire in 2002.

In his personal information, published on the Spire South Bank Hospital website, Mr Reading wrote: “I am originally from Worcestershire and returned when I was appointed as trauma and orthopaedic consultant.

“I am married with two sons and enjoy family life, golf and cricket.”

Mr Reading’s family was unavailable for comment yesterday.

• Please leave your tributes to Mr Reading below.