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| Oliver Sacks dies in New York aged 82 | Oliver Sacks dies in New York aged 82 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| British neurologist Oliver Sacks has died at the age of 82, it has been confirmed. | British neurologist Oliver Sacks has died at the age of 82, it has been confirmed. |
| The acclaimed author, whose book Awakenings inspired a film of the same name, reportedly died of cancer at his home in New York. | The acclaimed author, whose book Awakenings inspired a film of the same name, reportedly died of cancer at his home in New York. |
| In February he wrote about his illness - and being "face to face with dying". | In February he wrote about his illness - and being "face to face with dying". |
| Awakenings was Dr Sacks' account of how he brought a group of patients "back to life" after they spent years in "frozen states" after an illness. | Awakenings was Dr Sacks' account of how he brought a group of patients "back to life" after they spent years in "frozen states" after an illness. |
| The film version, which starred Robert De Niro and Robin Williams, was nominated for three Academy Awards - including best picture, in 1991. | The film version, which starred Robert De Niro and Robin Williams, was nominated for three Academy Awards - including best picture, in 1991. |
| Dr Sacks, who was born in London, was the author of several other books about unusual medical conditions, including The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat and The Island Of The Colorblind. | Dr Sacks, who was born in London, was the author of several other books about unusual medical conditions, including The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat and The Island Of The Colorblind. |
| He was awarded several honorary degrees recognising his contribution to science and literature, as well as a CBE in 2008 in the Queen's Birthday Honours. | He was awarded several honorary degrees recognising his contribution to science and literature, as well as a CBE in 2008 in the Queen's Birthday Honours. |
| Jacqui Graham, Dr Sacks' publicist, told the BBC he was "unlike anybody else I've ever met". | |
| She said she received an email from Dr Sacks' long-time PA saying the neurologist had "a very good death, in the same way that he'd had a very good life". | |
| Mrs Graham said: "He died surrounded by the things he loved and the people he loved, very peacefully, after an illness he had known about since January this year. He taught us a great deal, right up until the very end. | |
| "He always taught us what it was to be human, and he taught us what it is to die." | |
| 'Humane, inspirational' | |
| Paying tribute to Dr Sacks, she added: "He was completely himself - eccentric, but in a marvellous way. He was just completely full of love for life and very impish, and he was childish in the very best sense." | |
| She also tweeted that he was "the most remarkable, special, irreplaceable person" and "such a joy and privilege to know and work with him for so long". | |
| Other tributes to the author have been paid on Twitter, including by the author JK Rowling, who called him "great, humane and inspirational". | |
| Biologist Richard Dawkins tweeted: "I met Oliver Sacks only twice, but greatly admired him. Sad to hear of his death." | Biologist Richard Dawkins tweeted: "I met Oliver Sacks only twice, but greatly admired him. Sad to hear of his death." |