BBC One's Ambulance dedicates episode to deaths of paramedics from coronavirus

BBC One series Ambulance dedicated the first episode of their new series tonight to the tragic deaths of two paramedics.

After tonight's moving episode following the North West Ambulance Service, the programme paid tribute to staff who had died from coronavirus since filming.

Sharing a picture of paramedic Stuart Monk on screen, it revealed that he had died this year aged 48.

Stuart worked as a paramedic for over 20 years in Wigan and a crowdfunding page was set up to raise money for his family, who have been left devastated by his death.

BBC One series Ambulance dedicated tonight's episode to the deaths of two paramedics (BBC)

The series gave an update since filming (BBC)

A picture of patient transport service care assistant Phil Rennie was also shown on screen, who died on May 10.

Viewers were left heartbroken by the tribute, with one tweeting: "This shocked me so much at the end. What a sad sad loss. A true nhs hero x."

They paid tribute to the staff who had died (@NWAmbulance/Twitter)

While another commented: "*Hugs* to you all and to the families of the men xxxx."

A third wrote: "thank you for everything you do every single day. You are the very best of us."

(BBC)

(BBC)

"Fab episode. Very sad towards the end with the baby. And then I saw the Tribute and it set me off," another tweeted.

Another commented: "Great program, very emotional . A big thank you to all of you and what you do."

Last week, it was reported that 188 health and social care staff had died from coronavirus.

GMB presenters Ben Shephard and Ranvir Singh paid a tearful tribute by highlighting five frontline workers who had died from the virus.

Ben told viewers: "After the past 10 weeks, people up and down the country have endured in unprecedented situations, isolated from friends and family, living without the hugs and human contact we're used to. Also sacrificing every day freedoms in the fight against coronavirus."

Ranvir continued: "Despite those frustrations that we may feel at times, it is the sacrifices made by our key workers that must not be forgotten.

"188 health and social care workers are confirmed to have died and behind every statistic is a real person and their grieving family and friends.

"We've spoken to the relatives of some of those individuals and we want to tell you a bit about them."

*Ambulance returns next Thursday at 9pm on BBC One