The Leeds and Yorkshire NHS workers among 200 medical staff who have died of Covid in 2020

These are the Leeds and Yorkshire NHS health and social care workers who have died after contracting Coronavirus since March 11.
200 NHS health and social care workers have died after contracting Coronavirus since March 11200 NHS health and social care workers have died after contracting Coronavirus since March 11
200 NHS health and social care workers have died after contracting Coronavirus since March 11

At least 200 frontline health and social care workers have died after coronavirus.

Through tributes from loved ones and confirmation through sources such as local NHS trusts, PA news agency has confirmed the names of those who have died from Covid.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The list contains those who had Leeds and Yorkshire roles referenced and who were working shortly before their deaths when they were likely to have come into contact with patients.

The figure is likely to still be lower than the true number of workers who have died as the name of some victims will not yet have been publicised.

Khulisani (Khuli) Nkala, mental health nurse

Mr Nkala, aged 46, was a “well respected and selfless professional nurse, who always put the patient first” and had been working as a charge nurse in the forensic services at Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

He sadly died on April 17 after testing positive for Covid-19.

Josiane Zauma Ebonja Ekoli, nurse

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The mother-of-five was an agency nurse who lived in Leeds and worked at Harrogate Hospital. She sadly died on April 13, aged 55, after testing positive for Covid-19.

Her daughter said: “It meant everything to be a nurse, she’s been doing it for as long as I remember, more than 30 years.”

Mark Stanley, paramedic

Yorkshire Ambulance Service said two of its staff had died within three days after contracting coronavirus.

57-year-old Mark Stanley from North Yorkshire, sadly died in hospital on April 30. Mr Stanley’s friends said he was “such a great bloke” and extremely fit with no underlying health conditions.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Unnamed emergency medical technician for Yorkshire Ambulance Service

The second member of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service was an unnamed medical technician from West Yorkshire, who sadly died in hospital on April 30.

Both colleagues “worked tirelessly for many years serving their local communities and were married with families”, the trust said in a statement.

Richzeal Albufera, scientist

Mr Albufera, aged 45, was working as a biomedical scientist at Castle Hill Hospital, part of Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, before he sadly died with Covid-19 on June 9.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A colleague said the Filipino was on the forefront of testing during the pandemic, with an “inspiring and grafting” work ethic and was “the epitome of what the NHS is all about”.

Dr Abdel Wahab Babiker, consultant

Dr Abdel Wahab Babiker, aged 70, had worked as a consultant physician at Scarborough Hospital since August 2019.

He had been receiving care in hospital after contracting coronavirus and sadly died on May 18.

Dr Ed Smith, director of acute, emergency and elderly medicine at Scarborough Hospital, said: “Dr Babiker was an extremely energetic, hard-working, approachable and dedicated doctor.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“He was particularly notable for his ‘can-do’ attitude and supportive nature, and was well-liked by patients and staff alike.”

Ray Lever, domestic services assistant

Ray Lever, a domestic services assistant at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield, was remembered by colleagues as a kind man and a doting grandfather. He sadly died on May 1.

His daughters Rachel, Kathryn, and Rebecca said: “Dad was the perfect dad and grandad and nothing was ever too much trouble for him if it meant helping someone else.”

Dr Nasir Khan, locum doctor

Married well-recognised and popular father-of-three Dr Nasir Khan would “look for the slightest of excuses to help those in need,” according to his son Mahad Ali Khan.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Dr Khan was a locum doctor working at Dewsbury and District Hospital, who sadly died on April 29 after contracting Covid-19.

Medhat Atalla, consultant

The “hugely popular and respected” Dr Atalla sadly died following treatment for coronavirus at Doncaster Royal Infirmary (DRI), where he worked as a consultant geriatrician, the hospital said.

He moved to Britain from Egypt about 20 years ago and his colleagues said he cared for elderly people on three continents, including across the north of England.