Nurse dies of coronavirus becoming fifth Muslim medic death in the UK

Nurse Areema Nasreen, 36, had been working on the frontline

Areema Nasreen, a 36-year-old nurse, who worked at Walsall Manor Hospital for 16 years, has passed away from complications caused by the Covid-19 virus.  

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.