Family and friends spoke of their shock on Friday after the death of Areema Nasreen, a nurse who has died after contracting coronavirus, who appeared in recent days to be making a recovery.
The mother-of-three, who had no underlying health issues, died on Thursday after a diagnosis in mid-March.
The 36-year-old had been on a ventilator at Walsall Manor Hospital, in the north of England, where she had worked on the wards prior to falling ill.
She is the fifth Muslim medic to die in the UK from the virus.
Her friend, Rubi Aktar, paid tribute to her on Facebook.
"My beautiful best friend Areema Nasreen has just passed away," she wrote.
"My heart is broken. She fought and fought but Allah decided to take her.
"She was the most loveliest, genuine person you could ever meet, she went above and beyond for everyone she met.
"I’m so grateful that I had the honour to call her my best friend. I am so broken that words can’t explain.
"I can’t believe I will not see your smile again. You made me the nurse that I am today, with your support, motivation and inspiration I am the nurse that I am today and I hope I can do you proud Areema.
"I love you so much and I will never forget you.
"You had so much to live for, I am sorry you didn’t get to see your kids grow up and I’m sorry that you didn’t get to complete your career."
Prior to her death, her sister Kazeema, who works as a healthcare assistant at the same hospital, told Sky News her sister was normally fit and healthy.
She had been on a ventilator in the hospital where she worked.
West Midlands mayor Andy Street said: "Such tragic news this morning, my heart goes out to Areema’s family and three children. Frontline workers across the West Midlands are risking their lives day after day to protect us, the least we can do to help them is follow Government advice."
The West Midlands has become the second worst hit area in the UK behind London.
Almost 3,000 people have died of the virus in the UK so far and emergency temporary hospitals have been set up, including one at the NEC centre in Birmingham, where nurse Nazreen lived.
On Tuesday, former medical director, Dr Alfa Saadu, who is originally from Nigeria, died after contracting the virus.
He had answered the UK government's pleas to come out of retirement to help treat the rise in patients.
Consultant Amged El Hawrani, an ear, nose and throat specialist, lost his life on Saturday after working on the wards to help deal with the virus outbreak.
His death follows the passing of Sudanese London-based surgeon Adil El Tayar, who was volunteering in another facility in the English Midlands.
Dr Habib Zaidi, who had a Pakistani background, who also died after contracting coronavirus.
The British Islamic Medical Association said there are more than 200,000 Black Minority and Ethnic (BME) medics working in the NHS at the moment, and in London – the epicentre of the UK outbreak – 43 per cent of NHS employees are from BME backgrounds.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Samaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20DarDoc%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Samer%20Masri%2C%20Keswin%20Suresh%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%24800%2C000%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Flat6Labs%2C%20angel%20investors%20%2B%20Incubated%20by%20Hub71%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi's%20Department%20of%20Health%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2010%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog
Name: Timothy Husband
Nationality: New Zealand
Education: Degree in zoology at The University of Sydney
Favourite book: Lemurs of Madagascar by Russell A Mittermeier
Favourite music: Billy Joel
Weekends and holidays: Talking about animals or visiting his farm in Australia
if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
