Funeral set for US crash doctors

Books of condolence have been opened at Dr Phipps' GP surgery

A date has been set for the funeral of a heart expert and his GP wife who were killed in a motorbike accident during a holiday in Florida.

Dr Walter Rhoden, 47, a consultant cardiologist at Barnsley Hospital, and Dr Kathryn Phipps, 45, died as they were thrown from the bike on 30 March.

The funeral service will be held at 1330 BST on Monday, 14 April at Wentworth Church.

It will be followed by a private cremation for friends and family only.

The couple's three children, teenagers Jamie, Emily and Olivia, all under 17 years old, were at the hotel in Orlando where they were staying with their parents at the time of the accident.

This world has truly lost two wonderful people who were an inspiration to every one working in the medical profession Jayne Dolman, colleague and patient

The couple, from Hoyland, Barnsley, died at the scene of the crash on the State Road A1A in North Volusia County after they collided with a truck which pulled out in front of them, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

A website, set up in memory of the couple by their families, features tributes left by more than 100 colleagues and patients.

Dr Andrew Mowat, who worked with Dr Phipps, said: "I can't remember ever meeting anyone as enthusiastic and dynamic, and we are all - medicine, general practice, patients and people alike - the worse off for her loss."

Jayne Dolman said she had worked with Dr Rhoden for "many years", and he was also her cardiologist.

She said: "He saved my father's life. For this I will be eternally grateful.

"This world has truly lost two wonderful people who were an inspiration to everyone working in the medical profession. My thoughts are with all the family at this very, very sad time."