Tributes have been paid to a Rotherhithe woman who died in a collision with a lorry in central London last week.
Shatha Ali, 39, died on Tuesday (March 7) at High Holborn near where an Evelina London Children’s Hospital doctor passed away last year.
Her friend Ala’a al Shehabi said she was “absolutely devastated to hear the tragic news” of the death of Ms Ali, who was originally from Bahrain in the Middle East.
Her family said she was “everybody’s go-to person”. Her father Hasan Ali told the Evening Standard: “She was extremely generous and contributed to many, many charities. She had very good, close friends.”
Ms Ali worked as a corporate lawyer for city firm Latham and Watkins. She left last summer to take a career break.
Her former boss Stephen Kensell said he and colleagues were “shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of [their] dear friend Shatha.
“She was a kind and compassionate person, a selfless team player, an outstanding lawyer, and a terrific mentor.
“Our hearts are with Shatha’s family and friends at this unimaginably difficult time. Her generous spirit, warm personality, and, most of all, friendship, will be greatly missed.”
The street where Shatha passed away is notoriously dangerous for cyclists and nine bike users have died in the area in the past six years. One of these was Dr Marta Krawiec, a doctor at Evelina London in Waterloo.
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Cycling campaigners held a protest on Friday (March 4) to demand changes to the junction to make road conditions safer for cyclists.
Simon Munk, campaigns manager at the London Cycling Campaign, said: Just months from our last protest at Holborn, following the death of Dr Marta Krawiec, we are forced to return to this area and to junctions known for decades to be lethally dangerous to those walking and cycling, but where year after year nothing is done.”
Police said that no arrests had been made following Ms Ali’s death.
Det Sgt Rebecca Collens said: “This is an incredibly tragic incident and we are working hard to establish exactly what happened.
“We are especially keen to speak to a woman who handed in the victim’s mobile phone after it fell to the floor during the collision.”
She will be greatly missed and her generous and friendly spirit will live on. Much love and condolences to the family and friends