The parting gift from my dying friend was an extraordinary act of selfless compassion | Paul Daley

In the hospital room I lost it. I stood there awkwardly with wet eyes. And then something incredible happened

The word that our old friend was about to die travelled as quickly as a Mallee scrub fire. He'd been medically evacuated home from overseas a week or so earlier. He was now in hospital with his family about him, not very responsive and unable to talk.

You should get there quickly. He might only have a day or two.''