Dr Nagaruban Arumugam had worked as a paediatric registrar at Dubbo Base Hospital for the past five months.

After treating a baby born 13-weeks prematurely on Monday morning the paediatrician-in-training started the drive to Sydney, but was killed in a motor vehicle accident near Mudgee.

Tributes flowed yesterday from head of paediatrics Dr Dominic Fitzgerald, colleague Dr Naren Nadanachandran, Greater Western Area Health Service and Parkes MP Mark Coulton.

Dr Arumugam, known as Ruban, was described as someone with “a true calling” for paediatrics because of his personal skills and his death as a “phenomenal waste”.

Dr Nadanachandran met Dr Arumugam last year through work at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead and together with Dr Ciah Kim they came to Dubbo this year for the rural component of their training.

“Anyone will tell you Ruban was one of the most kind, generous, selfless people, which explains why he was ideal in paediatric training,” Dr Nadanachandran said.

“He was softly spoken but always confident, modest despite his skill as a doctor.”

Those skills came to the fore when Dr Arumugam was met with the birth of a baby 13 weeks prematurely this week.

He cared for the tiny patient from 3am until later in the morning when the NSW newborn and paediatric Emergency Transport Service arrived from Sydney, delayed because fog had closed the airport.

On the weekend he diagnosed and helped to stabilise a sick 4-year-old, Dr Nadanachandran said.

The unwell child was diagnosed with leukaemia and resulting treatment prevented a potentially fatal complication, he said.

Born in Sri Lanka, Dr Arumugam left his family in the early 1990s to attend Homebush Boys High School, of which he was dux.

During recent trouble in Sri Lanka he made efforts to meet its humanitarian needs, despite his busy life as a registrar.

“He felt a duty to his people at home and here, he was very much an Australian citizen at heart,” Dr Nadanachandran said.

Dr Arumugam was halfway through his training to become a specialist and worked in emergency paediatric, maternity and labour wards, Dr Fitzgerald said.

“He came to Dubbo in January and gave wonderful and exemplary service, he was universally well-liked,” he said.

“The last weekend of his life he saved the lives of two Dubbo residents.”

On behalf of Greater Western, Clinical Operations acting director Michelle Turnbull yesterday expressed their deepest sympathy to the family and friends on the tragic death of Dr Nagaruban Arumugam.

“Dr Arumugam was highly regarded within the paediatric department at Dubbo Base Hospital,” she said.

“He was well known for his excellent clinical skills and his kindness and care to sick children.

“His friendly and happy approach to his work was outstanding.

“The unexpected and tragic loss of Dr Arumugam has been a terrible shock to his friends and colleagues at Dubbo Base Hospital and he will be sadly missed.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Dr Arumugam.”

In Parliament yesterday Parkes MP Mark Coulton informed the house of the tragedy.

“I would like to acknowledge the contribution that Dr Arumugam made to the people of western New South Wales,” he told Parliament.

“I would like to acknowledge my sadness for his wife and his parents.

“His death highlights the dedication and extreme pressure that people who work in health in western New South Wales are under.

“I know he will be sadly missed.”

Dr Arumugam is survived by his wife, to whom he was “dedicated”, his parents and siblings.

faye.wheeler@ruralpress.com