'Amazing aunt' feared to be first UK care worker to die of coronavirus

6 April 2020, 16:25

An 'amazing aunt' who died from suspected coronavirus is believed to be the first care worker to succumb to the virus.

Carole Jamabo, 56, worked as a carer in the community for Cherish Elderly Care in Bury, Greater Manchester but fell ill around a week before her death last Wednesday, her family said.

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 from the south east to Bury, Greater Manchester, to be closer to her two children, Tonye Selema, 25, and Abiye Selema, 22, a student at Leeds University.

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Her youngest son 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.

She is not thought to have had any major underlying health conditions but did suffer from asthma.

Over the days her condition rapidly deteriorated her nephew, Dakuro Fiberesima, said.

She was transferred to an intensive care unit and put on a ventilator at Salford Royal Hospital but could not be saved.

Mr Fiberesima, from Purfleet, Essex, said: "It happened so rapidly. No one was by her side.

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"With the ventilator decision, you just get a call they are planning to turn the ventilator off.

"You wonder if you were there, whether that would make a difference?

"She was such a popular person, there would have been people there to fight her corner so to speak.

"The youngest son is in a terrible position. He was extremely close to her. He was living with her.

"She was just an amazing aunt.

"Growing up in an African background, the aunts are very strict, but she was fun and had such a positive character.

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"She would have been well deserving of a round of applause for her hard work and commitment over the years."

In a tribute on the Go Fund Me website to appeal to help the family pay for her funeral costs, Mr Fiberesima added: "She was a fun loving person with many friends and will be remembered for her uplifting, joyful and enthusing personality.

"Words cannot describe the damaging and destructive impact her passing will have to her work colleagues, friends, family and most painfully, her two children.

"With the goodness of your heart, please kindly donate what you can to support her family and two children to raise the necessary funds for the funeral costs in this painfully sad and upsetting time.

"May God bless you and help us all through this challenging period."

More than £5,260 has been raised for the family, surpassing the target of £4,500 to pay for the funeral.

If you wish to donate, then click the link HERE.