Emotional tributes have been paid to three care home workers who died of coronavirus after catching the deadly bug while looking after the elderly.
Dean McKee, 28, of London, worked as a carer at an old people’s home before he fell ill with symptoms of the virus just over a week ago.
He was rushed to hospital on Monday night but died in the early hours of Tuesday. His family say they are ‘truly heartbroken’ and described him as the ‘kindest, sweetest man’.
His football team, Queens Park Rangers, also paid tribute to him on their website, promising to pay his poem ‘Born White and Blue’ before every home game.
Mr McKee died on the same day that Amanda Scott, 56, of Birmingham, lost her fight to COVID-19. The grandmother-of-two ‘lost her life unexpectedly while working on the frontline’, her family said.
It comes almost a week after Carole Jamabo, 56, became the first carer to die of the virus. She worked at Cherish Elderly Care in Bury, where she had moved to be closer to her children.
Dean McKee, 28, of London, worked as a carer at an old people’s home before he fell ill with symptoms of the virus just over a week ago. He died in the early hours of Tuesday
His football team, Queens Park Rangers, also paid tribute to him on their website, promising to pay his poem ‘Born White and Blue’ before every home game
Today, the UK death toll rose by a record 936, increasing the number of fatalities to 7,095. There are now 55,242 confirmed cases nationwide.
Mr McKee is believe to be the youngest care worker to have fallen victim to the deadly bug.
A lifelong QPR fan, his team paid tribute to him in a statement that read: ‘It is with huge sadness the club has learned of the untimely passing of Dean McKee.
‘A lifelong fan, Dean’s original piece ‘Born Blue & White’ will continue to be played before all #QPR home games. Our thoughts are with his family. RIP Dean.’
His family’s tribute yesterday said: ‘Today we lost our little brother Dean Mckee aged 28.
‘He was a carer at an old people’s home and worked there until he got ill over a week ago. Last night he collapsed and was taken to hospital, he died a few hours later from covid 19.
‘We are truly heartbroken. Dean was the kindest, sweetest and nicest man.
‘He was an amazing poet, please see his best piece by clicking on this video, he wrote that for the love of his football team, Queens Park Rangers FC.
‘The tributes that have poured in are a testament to him and and testament to our mum who raised our lovely brother.’
A GoFundMe page to pay for his funeral has already raised more than £4,000.
Mr McKee died on the same day that Amanda Scott, 56, of Birmingham, lost her fight to COVID-19
Tributes also flooded in for Ms Scott, known as Mandy to friends and family.
She is survived by her mother Joan, two daughters Jade and Chelsea, sister Louise, two grandchildren Rico and Tyler and many more nieces and nephews.
The family statement read: ‘She was only 54-years-old, full of life and love. She dedicated herself to her job working in a nursing home and providing hospitality to all of the residents.
‘She loved her family so much and had so many friends who also loved her.
‘Rest in peace Amanda Scott, gone way too soon. Goodnight and god bless xxx’
Another fundraising page set up to pay for her funeral has already raised more than £1,600.
Carole Jamabo is believed to have been the first care worker lost in the fight against coronavirus.
Carole Jamabo, 56, of Bury, (pictured with her two sons) is believed to have been the first care worker lost in the fight against coronavirus
She fell ill with symptoms of the infection around a week before her death on April 1.
She died at Salford Royal Hospital and is not believed to have suffered from any major underlying health conditions but did have asthma.
A devout Christian, Ms Jamabo served the public as a key worker for over 25 years, after moving to the UK from Nigeria in the early 1990s.
She previously worked in both the prison service and as an NHS administrator at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London.
Most recently, she worked as a carer in the community after moving to Bury to be closer to her two children, Tonye Selema, 25, and Abiye Selema, 22.
Her youngest son Abiye, a student at Leeds University, has also now tested positive for the virus, according to the family.
Ms Jamabo became suddenly unwell at her home whilst with her youngest son and was then rushed to hospital and put on a ventilator but medics could not save her.
