British neurologist Oliver Sacks dies aged 82

British neurologist and author Oliver Sacks has died aged 82 after a battle with cancer.

The London-born scientist died at his home in New York City today, his personal assistant told the New York Times.

Dr Sacks, who wrote The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat, told the same newspaper in February this year his “luck had ran out” after being diagnosed with the disease.

He told the newspaper he had multiple metastases in the liver and was “face to face with dying”, adding he had to live out his last months in the “richest, deepest, most productive way I can”.

Born in London in 1933, Dr Sacks earned his medical degree at Oxford University and did residencies and fellowship work at Mt Zion Hospital in San Francisco and at UCLA.

He moved to New York in 1965 to work as a neurologist and wrote several books about unusual medical conditions including Awakenings, which was based on his work with patients who were treated with a drug that woke them up after years in a catatonic state.

The book later inspired the Oscar-nominated feature film of the same name starring Robert De Niro and Robin Williams.

Dr Sacks was awarded several honorary degrees recognising his contribution to science and literature and was made a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2008.

Since his death was announced, tributes have flooded in on social media.

Biologist Richard Dawkins added that he “greatly admired” Dr Sacks and was “sad to hear of his death”.