A HIGH-profile US doctor, who counted U2 singer Bono among his celebrity patients, was found dead by his 11-year-old daughter in their apartment.
New York police have indicated that Dr Dean Lorich died from a self-inflicted knife wound in his chest in the bathroom of his Park Avenue apartment.
Detectives said there was no sign of breaking and entering.
He was hailed for his work to save Bono's mobility after he suffered serious injuries in a bike accident in September 2014.
The singer was rushed to New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center's Emergency Department, where he underwent five hours of surgery led by Dr Lorich.
Bono's injuries included "facial fracture involving the orbit of his eye, three separate fractures of his left shoulder blade and a fracture of his left humerus bone in his upper arm, the bone shattering in six different places and tearing through his skin.
It was feared at one point that Bono would lose the use of his left arm.
Lou Shapiro, CEO and President of the hospital, and its surgeon-in-chief, Todd Albert, announced the news "with the deepest sorrow", describing him as "a respected surgeon, teacher and friend... (who) helped thousands of patients throughout his career, including many who were impacted by crises abroad".
Dr Lorich, who was father of three girls, led a relief effort in Haiti for 2010 earthquake victims, according to The Hospital for Special Surgery.
