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| Coronavirus: Victoria ticket worker dies after being spat at | Coronavirus: Victoria ticket worker dies after being spat at |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A railway ticket office worker has died with coronavirus after being spat at by a man who claimed he had Covid-19. | |
| Belly Mujinga, 47, who had underlying respiratory problems, was working at Victoria station in London in March when she was assaulted, along with a female colleague. | Belly Mujinga, 47, who had underlying respiratory problems, was working at Victoria station in London in March when she was assaulted, along with a female colleague. |
| Within days of the incident, both women fell ill with the virus. | Within days of the incident, both women fell ill with the virus. |
| British Transport Police said an inquiry had been launched to trace the man who spat at the pair. | |
| Mrs Mujinga was on the concourse of Victoria station on 22 March when she was approached by the suspect. | Mrs Mujinga was on the concourse of Victoria station on 22 March when she was approached by the suspect. |
| Her husband Lusamba Gode Katalay said the man had asked his wife what she was doing and why she was there. | |
| "She told him she was working and the man said he had the virus and spat on her," he added. | "She told him she was working and the man said he had the virus and spat on her," he added. |
| Mrs Mujinga was admitted to Barnet Hospital on 2 April and was put on a ventilator. But she died three days later, the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA), said. | |
| 'Caring person' | 'Caring person' |
| Mr Katalay said he called his wife on a video app when she was in hospital, but didn't hear from her again. | Mr Katalay said he called his wife on a video app when she was in hospital, but didn't hear from her again. |
| "I thought she might be asleep, but the doctor phoned me to tell me she had died," he said. | "I thought she might be asleep, but the doctor phoned me to tell me she had died," he said. |
| "She was a good person, a good mother, and a good wife. She was a caring person and would take care of everybody." | "She was a good person, a good mother, and a good wife. She was a caring person and would take care of everybody." |
| Ten people attended Mrs Mujinga's funeral, including her 11-year-old daughter. | Ten people attended Mrs Mujinga's funeral, including her 11-year-old daughter. |
| TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said: "We are shocked and devastated at Belly's death. She is one of far too many front-line workers who have lost their lives to coronavirus." | |
| The union added that there were "serious questions about her death". | The union added that there were "serious questions about her death". |
| "As a vulnerable person in the 'at-risk' category, and her condition known to her employer, there are questions about why she wasn't stood down from frontline duties early on in this pandemic," Mr Cortes said. | |
| Ms Mujinga's employer, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), said it "took any allegations extremely seriously" and that it was investigating all claims. | Ms Mujinga's employer, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), said it "took any allegations extremely seriously" and that it was investigating all claims. |
| Angie Doll, of GTR, said: "The safety of our customers and staff, who are key workers themselves, continues to be front of mind at all times and we follow the latest government advice." | Angie Doll, of GTR, said: "The safety of our customers and staff, who are key workers themselves, continues to be front of mind at all times and we follow the latest government advice." |