‘Beautiful’ nurse, 28, dies with Covid-19 despite shielding

Tributes have been paid to a 28-year-old nurse and mother from Greater Manchester who has died after contracting Covid-19.

Vivian Chickwan Ng worked at North Manchester General Hospital but had been shielding as kidney issues and diabetes meant she was vulnerable to coronavirus.

More than 180 NHS workers like Ms Ng are known to have died with Covid-19 in the UK since the start of the outbreak.

The Manchester Evening News, which spoke with Ms Ng’s father, reported she had been using dialysis but her partner Tony Sheridan recently discovered he was a match to donate his kidney for her, and the couple had been organising a transplant.

Vivian Chickwan Ng worked at North Manchester General Hospital but had been shielding as kidney issues and diabetes meant she was vulnerable to coronavirus. (Photo by ANTHONY DEVLIN/AFP via Getty Images)

The couple from Middleton had also been planning to get married. They have a daughter called Skye, aged four.

Ms Ng was closely involved with St Michael’s Church in Middleton, which announced that she died at home on Wednesday May 27.

The Rev Jackie Calow told the PA news agency: “You meet some people in your life and they touch you forever – Vivian was one of those people.

“The way she approached her life – quite often in pain herself – and just got on with things…”

In a statement posted on the church’s Facebook page announcing Ms Ng’s death, Ms Calow added: “Vivian was beautiful on the outside but it was her inner being that was the most beautiful.

“Her gentle nature, inspiring spirit, kind and generous heart and mind were all gifts we have been blessed to see and receive.”

Ms Calow added that the family are now in quarantine, meaning she cannot visit them.

“Normally we would be round there doing what we do, but we just can’t,” she said.

“When you’re talking to someone on the phone it’s very different… You can’t judge when your questions are too much, you can’t help them when they need a hug.

“Our grief is really tough but it’s nothing to theirs. I just can’t imagine what they’re going through.”

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