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Coronavirus: Witney nurse, 84, 'gave her life to NHS' | Coronavirus: Witney nurse, 84, 'gave her life to NHS' |
(32 minutes later) | |
Tributes have been paid to a "one of a kind" 84-year-old auxiliary nurse who died after contracting coronavirus. | Tributes have been paid to a "one of a kind" 84-year-old auxiliary nurse who died after contracting coronavirus. |
Margaret Tapley had continued to work as a healthcare assistant at Witney Community Hospital in Oxfordshire. | Margaret Tapley had continued to work as a healthcare assistant at Witney Community Hospital in Oxfordshire. |
She died on Sunday in hospital in Swindon, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust said. | She died on Sunday in hospital in Swindon, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust said. |
Her grandson Ben Wood told BBC Radio 5 Live she "had such a drive" and "gave her life and dedicated it towards the NHS". | Her grandson Ben Wood told BBC Radio 5 Live she "had such a drive" and "gave her life and dedicated it towards the NHS". |
"That was the way she was, there would be no talking her out of it," he said. | "That was the way she was, there would be no talking her out of it," he said. |
"She had been working for just over 40 years doing three night shifts a week and she dedicated her life to the end." | "She had been working for just over 40 years doing three night shifts a week and she dedicated her life to the end." |
'Very special' | 'Very special' |
The trust said Mrs Tapley worked her last shift on 10 April. | The trust said Mrs Tapley worked her last shift on 10 April. |
Her family said the grandmother of four had been experiencing symptoms of coronavirus before she was admitted to hospital on Thursday and died three days later. | Her family said the grandmother of four had been experiencing symptoms of coronavirus before she was admitted to hospital on Thursday and died three days later. |
"We always said she would outlive all of us with the energy she had and it is tragic her life has been cut short," Mr Wood said. | "We always said she would outlive all of us with the energy she had and it is tragic her life has been cut short," Mr Wood said. |
"She still had an awful lot to give." | "She still had an awful lot to give." |
Mr Wood said he was grateful for the "incredible" response online to his grandmother's death. | Mr Wood said he was grateful for the "incredible" response online to his grandmother's death. |
"We always knew she was a very special, and it's amazing to see so many others are recognising that and paying tribute as well," he said. | "We always knew she was a very special, and it's amazing to see so many others are recognising that and paying tribute as well," he said. |
Hannah Tapley, a high jumper who has competed for Team GB, said her grandmother was the "strongest woman" she had ever known. | |
Another of her grandchildren, Tom Wood - a senior charge nurse in an A&E department - described his Ms Tapley as his "inspiration". | |
Oxford Health chief executive Stuart Bell said Mrs Tapley "embodied all that is best in those who work for the NHS". | |
"She was a legend on the ward, and more widely throughout the whole hospital," he said. | |
"She had worked there for many years, and was remarkable in that she stayed with her team well beyond the point when many others would have retired." |