A 21-year-old nursery worker who was waiting for a liver operation has passed away after being removed from the transplant list as she was diagnosed with coronavirus.

It was four weeks ago when Katie Horne from Burgess Hill was admitted with a severe liver condition. She went to Princess Royal Hospital where it became known that she needed a life-saving liver transplant.

Katie was then moved to King’s College Hospital in London where she tested positive for COVID-19, according to her sister Emma.

The nursery worker was taken off the transplant list and struggled with both the coronavirus and liver condition for 12 days.

Her family said they are ‘completely devastated’ by her death.

In an interview with the BBC, her sister Emma said: “If anyone needed anything, you could always count on Kate to be there. She was so full of life and happy. We just can’t believe it — we are absolutely devastated.”

Katie’s heartbroken boyfriend, Jamie, wrote on Facebook: “It’s with great sadness that we have to inform all of Kate’s friends that she sadly passed away this morning at 5.45am of a short illness and contributing to her death is this devastating coronavirus.

“She will always be loved and will forever be in our hearts.”

Kate’s friend, Tilly, also wrote on Facebook: “Heaven gained another angel. She will always be loved and will forever be in our hearts.”

To halt the spread of coronavirus, the NHS have prevented some organs from being transplanted to recipients. While donations aren’t known to transmit the infection, transplant recipients are immuno-suppressed to prevent organ rejection.

Health bosses have previously warned that high-risk operations could be canceled as the NHS braces for a higher number of coronavirus cases.

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