AN NHS nurse who died after battling coronavirus symptoms 'sacrificed her life for the profession she adored', her husband says.
Mum-of-three Areema Nasreen, 36, died in the intensive care ward of the hospital where she had worked earlier this week.
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Areema, who leaves children aged eight, 10 and 17, had been married to Fasil Tahseen for 18 years.
He told the Sunday Mirror that his wife, who worked at Walsall Manor Hospital, West Midlands, loved her career on the frontline.
He said: "It was her dream to become a nurse.
"She loved helping people."
Areema died moments after her husband whispered "don't worry about the kids" as they shared a final hug.
She caught the deadly virus from patients at the hospital.
'IT FEELS SO UNREAL THAT SHE'S GONE'
Fasil said: "She gave up her life to save the lives of others.
"How honourable was her life and how honourable was her passing."
Yesterday, it was announced that a further 708 people who tested positive for Covid-19 have died, bringing the UK's total death toll to 4,353.
Areema's sister Ash, 31, told the Sun Online at the family’s home in Walsall earlier this week: "We’re distraught. We are all just broken – we’ve just got no words.
“It feels so unreal that she’s gone. She was just a legend of our family.
"Areema was on the ventilator and just before she died, her husband said to her ‘don’t worry about the kids’.
“She started to cry. The doctors said please don’t hug her, because of the virus, but he said he had to.
“Then she passed away. We are all absolutely devastated."
Areema tested positive for Covid-19 after developing a soaring temperature, body aches and a cough.
Her illness came just four days after she tweeted a picture of her 2003 job offer letter from Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust.
She had written: "17 years on Allhamdulillah still going love my journey. @WalsallHcareNHS…House move finding special memories!!!"
The mum was the sixth confirmed NHS worker to succumb to coronavirus.
How honourable was her life and how honourable was her passing
The younger sibling said: “She used to say to me ‘Ash, I love you so much, you’re my baby’. I looked up to her so much. I will never be able to forget her.
“I just want her to come back.
“She’s a martyr. She gave her life protecting others and caring for patients. She’s gone to paradise and we’ve lost someone that can never be replaced.”
Areema qualified as a staff nurse in January last year and worked at Walsall Manor Hospital's acute medical unit.
She had wanted to be a nurse since she was a teenager, after caring for her nan who suffered a stroke.
Now three NHS nurses have died from coronavirus – robbing six children of their hero mothers and a family of their son.
John Alagos, 23, is the youngest British medic believed to have died from Covid-19.
He collapsed and died after working a 12-hour shift.
After returning home from work on Friday following a night shift, John complained about suffering from a headache and a high temperature throughout the night, his mother told the The Mail on Sunday.
His mum says he had not been wearing the proper protective clothing while at work.
Aimee O'Rourke, 38, also sadly passed away after treating patients.
Mum-of-three Ms O'Rourke, 38, died at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, Kent, where she worked.
Earlier this week, Aimee's heartbroken friends and family paid tribute and described her as “beautiful” and confirmed she died after “losing her fight to coronavirus”.
They wrote: "Aimee was a beautiful woman and a valued NHS nurse. Aimee caught the Covid-19 virus and sadly lost her fight to coronavirus.
"Please give as much as you can to help Aimee's family, just as Aimee gave her life to make sure other people survived this virus."
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Aimee's daughter Megan added: “It was us 4 against the world!
"Now us 3 will pull together more than ever!!! Look at all the lives you looked after and all the family’s you comforted when patients passed away.
"You are an angel and you will wear your NHS crown forever more because you earned that crown the very first day you started!!!"
Health Secretary Matt Hancock today paid tribute to the NHS staff who have died while serving the nation.
He said: "It shows the incredible bravery of every member of the NHS who goes into work knowing that these dangers are there. And I think the whole nation is grateful."
Areema had previously written: “I just wanted to be able to look after people, particularly those who are elderly and vulnerable.
"I cry every morning because I am so happy that I have finally realised my dream of becoming a nurse."
The other five doctors to have died after contracting coronavirus include 68-year-old Dr Alfa Sa'adu, mental health nurse Thomas Harvey and Dr Amged El-Hawrani, 55.
Mr Harvey, 57, had expressed concern about the lack of protective equipment for frontline workers, according to his family.
He was an experienced nurse, who had dedicated more than 20 years of his life to the NHS before his tragic death on Sunday 29 March.
His 19-year-old daughter Tamira says that he was "let down" and his death could have been prevented.
Dr Habib Zaidi, 76, is believed to have been the first doctor in the UK to have been killed by Covid-19 and Dr Adil El Tayar, 63, passed away shortly after.
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Brits across the country stood outside their homes to applaud NHS workers once again this week.
The first emotional Clap For Carers took place on Thursday, March 26, and is expected to continue on a weekly basis.
On Thursday, ITV paused its programming as part of the tribute while Brits – including celebs like David Beckham, Paddy McGuiness and Rita Ora – whooped and cheered on the NHS and frontline key workers.
Last week millions cheered and set off fireworks to celebrate all those helping the country stay afloat.
Earlier Health Secretary Matt Hancock, speaking publicly for the first time since catching the killer bug, also paid tribute to them.
He told medics: "Many of those who died from the NHS were people who came to this country to make a difference – and they did, and they've given their lives in sacrifice and we salute them."
It comes after the coronavirus pandemic reached a grim milestone with the number of people infected worldwide soaring past one million.
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