Fit and active cardiology nurse, 34, dies of coronavirus leaving family ‘immensely heartbroken’
A FIT and healthy nurse has tragically died of coronavirus, leaving his family “immensely heartbroken”.
Ken Lambatan, 34, was a cardiology research nurse at St. George’s Hospital in London and is one of over 90 NHS heroes confirmed to have died on the frontline.
Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
The tragic news comes as the nation held a minute’s silence today to remember our heroic medical workers who have passed away in the fight against the outbreak.
Ken, from the Phillipines, worked as a research nurse in the cardiology ward at St. George’s Hospital in south-west London, who confirmed the tragic news this morning.
According to his LinkedIn profile, he joined the hospital after working at Kingston Hospital for two years.
He passed away after reportedly developing hypercoagulation after contracting the virus – a condition that causes the blood to clot more easily than normal.
Tributes have since flooded in online to remember Ken, who colleagues described as “a kind soul”.
Give now to The Sun's NHS appeal
BRITAIN’s four million NHS staff are on the frontline in the battle against coronavirus.
But while they are helping save lives, who is there to help them?
The Sun has launched an appeal to raise £1MILLION for NHS workers. The Who Cares Wins Appeal aims to get vital support to staff in their hour of need.
We have teamed up with NHS Charities Together in their urgent Covid-19 Appeal to ensure the money gets to exactly who needs it.
The Sun is donating £50,000 and we would like YOU to help us raise a million pounds, to help THEM. No matter how little you can spare, please donate today here: www.thesun.co.uk/whocareswinsappeal.
Jacqueline Totterdell, the Chief Executive of St George’s Hospital from St. George’s Hospital, said that Ken was a “true gem” and popular with colleagues.
She said: “Everyone at St George’s is deeply saddened by the death of Ken, one of our cardiac research nurses.
“Ken was very popular with staff, and described as a ‘true gem’ by those that knew him well.
“He was dedicated to his role as a research nurse here at St George’s, and was as popular with his patients as he was with colleagues. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends and colleagues at this time.”
Tributes also flooded in to remember Ken online.
Responding to the news on Twitter, one shocked friend of the family and medical worker wrote: “My sister’s friend Ken Lambatan, a research nurse at St. George’s Hospital, has died today.
“His family is immensely heartbroken. Please honour him by staying at home.”
Ken was very popular with staff, and described as a ‘true gem’ by those that knew him well
Jacqueline Totterdell, Chief Executive of St George’s Hospital Where Kenneth Worked
The tragic news comes as the Health Secretary announced that families of NHS heroes who die on coronavirus frontline will get £60,000 of cash help so they are not left destitute.
More than 90 front line NHS workers are confirmed to have died since 25 March, according to figures from the Press Association.
Coronavirus has claimed at least 21,092 lives in the United Kingdom so far with over 150,000 cases recorded.
The government has also faced criticism for a lack of PPE provided to NHS staff, with some nurses forced to use makeshift protective equipment.
Stories have emerged in recent weeks of nurses and doctors having to wear aprons which don’t cover their bodies or told to rewash PPE to make ends meet.
Ministers say they have delivered billions of bits of PPE and claim they will not end the lockdown until protection stocks can be guaranteed for all workers.
MOST READ IN NEWS
Just yesterday, an NHS worker died in her heartbroken husband’s arms while gasping for breath after a gruelling battle with coronavirus.
Laura Tanner, 51, collapsed after her breathing “got shallower and shallower” while waiting for paramedics to arrive.
But the mum-of-two tragically couldn’t be saved and died in husband Kevin’s arms from the deadly disease.
