A 70-year-old woman who worked as a nurse for over four decades passed away after treating patients with coronavirus.
Alice Kit Tang Ong, who was described as ‘completely dedicated’ to her work, lost her fight against the disease two weeks after being taken to the Royal Free hospital in London.
Her daughter, Melissa Ong, told The Guardian that her mother had spent her life helping people.
“She was completely dedicated to her work, that’s what she was doing until the moment she was taken ill,” she shared.
It is believed that Ms. Ong may have contracted the virus while working without protective equipment.
NHS England and the government have been criticized for the lack of protective equipment such as gloves and face masks.
A consultant geriatrician, Dr. Anton Sebastianpillai, was rushed into the intensive care unit at Kingston Hospital. Four days later, he passed away from coronavirus.
A spokesperson for the hospital said in a statement that Dr. Anton had finished his last shift with the hospital recently.
“It is with great sadness that I confirm the death of a consultant geriatrician who was part of the team…Dr Anton Sebastianpillai died on Saturday 4 April 2020 having been cared for in the hospital’s intensive care unit since March 31,” the spokesperson said.
“Dr Sebastianpillai completed his last shift with us on March 20 and we would like to extend our sincere condolences to his family.”
The doctor had already retired from his career and had just volunteered to help treat patients with coronavirus, according to the Peradeniya Medical School Alumni Association of the United Kingdom.
One internet user commented: “After this is over, I would like to see a national memorial as we have to others who gave their lives in service to our country.”
Another said: “A nurse that showed complete dedication to her profession – I didn’t know her, but am so profoundly saddened by her death and wish her family to know they are in my thoughts in this trying time.”
A third wrote: “RIP Alice, you treated me before. You were a highly conscientious, very kind and also a highly witty person. Your family must be very proud of you. Never forgotten.”
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Replaced!