Crystal Palace Football Club has paid tribute to one of its matchday paramedics after he died from coronavirus.
Ian Reynolds, 53, a committed Unison union rep and Crystal Palace fan, fell ill last month before finally passing away from Covid-19 yesterday.
The paramedic, based at New Addington, near Croydon, dedicated 32 years of his life to the London Ambulance Service.
He is the third London Ambulance Service worker to die in the last three weeks and was working in a logistics role at the time he contracted the virus.
His colleague, Dr Amir Pakravan, who worked alongside him during matches at Selhurst Park, described him as 'the best friend you could wish for'.
He added: "Ian was a London Paramedic of more than 30 years and I had the pleasure of working with him over the past 8 years as an invaluable member of our Selhurst Park pitch-side medical team.
"Indeed, he led the coordination of the pitch-side stretcher crew. He also helped with arranging medical cover for Academy games over the years.
"As a person, he was the best friend you could wish for, always smiling, calm and easy going, and an avid Palace fan.
"As a colleague, he was extremely professional, reliable, approachable, highly experienced and knowledgeable, and always ready to help. He was the complete package and an absolute joy to work with.
"Our pitch-side medical team will not be the same without Ian."
Dr Pakravan said Ian is survived by his wife and two sons, one of whom will continue his dad's work as a member of the pitch-side stretcher crew.
Ian's newphew, Dan Powell, wrote on Facebook : "Very very sad day yesterday the loss of uncle Ian to covid-19, will be sadly lost as a uncle, husband, dad, brother and paramedic, my heart goes out to the rest of the family."
Garrett Emmerson, chief executive of the London Ambulance Service speaking on LBC today said:"This is obviously heartbreaking news and we have had very little time to get used to it because up until yesterday afternoon we were hoping for a better outcome.
"We are all just devastated. We are losing people we have known and loved and worked with for a number of years."
Unison described Ian as 'a passionate union man, a devoted Crystal Palace fan and an unapologetic mod'.
A Unison statement said: "Ian embodied all the values of the union - a wise, experience and popular man who had time for everybody and could relate to his colleagues, members and patients alike - regardless of their background or identity - with an ease that endeared him to everyone he came across.
"In addition to his tireless union and frontline work, Ian was the principle liaison between the LAS and all the Croydon care homes, using his easy charm and wit to build bridges, as he did everywhere he went.
"He loved his music, consuming live gigs like he did craft ales.
"Ian was the mate who always had time for a curry and a chat, who knew what you were going through and would be there for you with wise words and irreverent jokes in equal measure.
"They don't make them like Ian any more. He will be deeply missed by his union comrades, his Croydon ambulance family, his boys Jack and Ben (of whom he was immeasurably proud) and his wife Sian, who he loved with all his heart."
