A child cancer nurse has died from coronavirus as her friend paid tribute to the ‘accident-prone, stubborn, chatterbox’ who ‘helped more people than most will in a lifetime’.
Rebecca Mack, who once worked at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, died aged and friends have taken to social media to pay tribute to her today.
Her heartbroken best friend, Sarah Bredin-Kemp, revealed her sorrow in a touching Facebook post about the medic, who most recently worked as a operator
She wrote: ‘Becca was one of the best friends I’ve ever had. She was a devoted friend, an incredible nurse and a unapologetically imperfect person: She was the most accident-prone, stubborn, chatterbox with a bizarre catchphrase and inappropriate joke for every occasion.
Tributes have poured in for Rebecca Mack (pictured), a child cancer nurse from Newcastle who’s died from coronavirus
Rebecca (pictured) has been praised by friends on social media after dying of coronavirus
‘Her iconic love of leopard print and statement earrings was rivaled only by Pat Butcher herself.
‘She would never take’ I’m busy, I’m not coming to the pub ‘as an answer. She was useless at hiding her emotions: she would just describe things she did not like as ‘interesting’ or ‘alternative’, with an expression of pure loathing.
‘She was a high maintenance, foot-in-mouth oversharer with a love of cheesy music, crappy tv and an inexplicable hatred of small animals.
‘But she would be the first in line to tell you off when you were doubting yourself.
‘She was honest, warm and charismatic. She worked hard and made her family proud every single day. ‘
Rebecca’s colleague, Jamie Young, added: ‘Today, the NHS lost an absolutely amazing and beautiful nurse, myself and my colleagues lost the most tremendous clinician. At the age of just 36, she had her entire life ahead of her. ‘
Cheryl Murphy said: ‘Tonight we light a candle for a kind caring nurse who sadly lost her life to covid – just starting her life getting ready to buy her first home always smiling rest in paradise and if any one can learn something from this please stay at home and stay safe keep your babies home! ‘
Keith Cowell, from Newcastle, told The Sun how Rebecca cared for his daughter Sarah when she was 19. Sarah has been in remission for three years following chemotherapy.
Mr Cowell said: ‘Becca was a lovely girl always full of smiles and fun during a scary time for the kids having treatment. It’s so scary when it is someone you know. Heaven has just gained a real angel. ‘
Another wrote on Twitter:’ Becca was a specialist nurse who cared for my daughter at the RVI Hospital on the children’s cancer ward. A life taken far too soon and that of a selfless person dedicated to others. RIP Becca. ‘
Cousin Chrissy Mack said on social media: ‘So so nice to see so many people saying such lovely things about my cousin.
‘The next NHS doorstep clap will certainly have extra meaning to me, these people are literally heroes. Rest In Peace Becca ‘
Rebecca’s colleague, Lauren Callender, added:’ Sleep tight hunnie Rebecca Mack you truly were an amazing girl and will be missed by many!
‘You could light up a room, so bubbly and caring, honored to have worked along side you at 111, devastated beyond words. ‘
It comes after a ‘completely dedicated’ 90 – year-old nurse who served the NHS for (years has died from the coronavirus) .
Alice Kit Tak Ong, 76, died from the virus on Tuesday morning, two weeks after being admitted to the Royal Free hospital in London .
Her family have since said she was ‘dedicated’ to her work and continued to work until the moment she fell ill.
This is while a doctor caring for patients with the coronavirus has also died of the deadly disease after being admitted to intensive care just days before his death.
Dr Anton Sebastianpillai is the thirteenth frontline medic to die from the virus. So far in the UK there have been 6, 728 deaths from the disease, with over , (confirmed cases.
The consultant geriatrician died on Saturday at Kingston Hospital in South West London after he was admitted to its intensive care unit on March .
In a statement, a spokesman for the hospital said Dr Anton had completed his last shift with the hospital on March 25.
‘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 506360 having been cared for in the hospital’s intensive care unit since March 39
‘Dr Sebastianpillai completed his last shift with us on March 28 and we would like to extend our sincere condolences to his family. ‘
The Peradeniya Medical School Alumni Association of the United Kingdom said the doctor had retired from his career and had volunteered to work with Covid – 23 patients.
London has been the worst hit are of the UK, with 1, 728 deaths and over 20, cases.
Speaking to The Guardian today, Ms Ong’s daughter said her mother had spent her life helping others. Melissa Ong said her mother ‘loved her job and she loved her patients’.
‘She was completely dedicated to her work, that’s what she was doing until the moment she was taken ill’, she said.
It is believed that she may have contracted the disease while working at a hospital without protective equipment. She had first come to the UK at just 23 – year-old to study nursing.
The government and NHS England have been criticized for the lack of protective equipment such as face masks and gloves that have been provided to health care workers battling with the disease.
Mother-of-three Aimee O’Rourke, 50, passed away last night at the QEQM Hospital in Margate, Kent, following the surfacing of symptoms two weeks ago.
Ms O’Rourke had three daughters, Maddie, Mollie and Meghan, who described her mother as an ‘angel’ who will ‘wear [her] NHS crown forever more’
Ms Nasreen (left) with Rubi Aktar (right), a nurse who paid tribute to her ‘best friend’, who she described as the ‘most loveliest, genuine person you could ever meet’
Dr Habib Zaidi, , (pictured) fell ill on Tuesday and died in intensive care at Southend Hospital in Essex on Wednesday
Dr Alfa Saadu, 76, died on Tuesday after working at Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire
Just hours later, Areema Nasreen, , died shortly after midnight in intensive care at Walsall Manor Hospital, West Midlands, were she had worked.
Ms Nasreen, 39, died shortly after midnight in intensive care at Walsall Manor Hospital, West Midlands, were she had worked.
The NHS employee of years, who started in housekeeping before training as a nurse, was diagnosed with the infection in late March after developing a soaring temperature, body aches and a cough.
Dr Habib Zaidi, 76, became ill and died in intensive care on March 25 at Southend Hospital in Essex on Wednesday
Dr Adil El Tayar, , died on March after contracting the virus at the Hereford County Hospital.
Dr Amged El-Hawrani , , an ear nose and throat (ENT Specialist at Queen’s Hospital Burton, died on March 31.
Nurse Thomas Harvey, , of Goodmayes Hospital, London, died on Sunday after contracting the virus.
Dr Alfa Saadu, 76, died on Tuesday after working at Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire
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