A popular hospital security guard 'who brightened everyone's day' has died after contracting coronavirus - shortly after his wife recovered from the same bug.
Tony Kabia worked for many years on the security team at Manchester Royal Infirmary.
The 58-year-old from of Wythenshawe died in the early hours of Thursday, April 23, after he tested positive for covid-19.
Tony's wife, Sarah Margaret Nazia, and works as a nursing assistant was the first to fall unwell with the virus.
The couple lived in separate rooms and Sarah recovered, but Tony began to suffer symptoms from April 1, the Manchester Evening News reports.
He returned from work feeling exhausted and was unable to get out of bed.
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Tony was taken to Wythenshawe Hospital on Easter Monday following advice from his GP.
He was treated on the intensive care unit and was placed in a medically induced coma, but he was unable to fight the virus.
Tragically his son and daughter, Francis and Naomi, were travelling up from London to say goodbye the morning he died, but did not make it to the hospital in time.
Tony was recently nominated for an excellence award by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and his family said he was really looking forward to the event.
He purchased a suit and new shoes in preparation for the ceremony originally scheduled to take place in April, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, it had been postponed to September.
In an emotional tribute Tony's family described him as "well liked, always cheerful" and said "he would go the extra mile for anyone".
Lillian Nabuduwa, Tony's stepdaughter, said: "He was a father, he was a husband, he was a good man.
"He worked for Kingdom Security and was at the MRI for a long time.
"Everyone there loved him, the trust loved him.
"He was recently nominated for an award for excellence by the MFT. He never stopped going on about it.
"He could take three people and was saying 'Have you bought a dress, get your heels, are you ready?'
"He was well liked, always cheerful, everyone loved him up to the directors."
She added: "On April 1 he went to work, came back after half a day. He works seven days a week, he is always working and has never taken a half day.
"He felt like he didn't have enough energy. He stayed home and self-isolated.
"He seemed to be managing it well. The Tuesday of that week he said he felt really exhausted he couldn't get out of bed.
"After that he stayed in bed, my mum took care of him. It was just the two of them in the house.
"She helped him and brought him meals. He said he couldn't walk and felt dizzy.
"On Easter Monday he called the GP. His breath was struggling, she sensed it. The GP called for an ambulance to check oxygen, they took him to the hospital.
"He went to A&E, he called mum to say he had arrived and was being taken to ICU.
"We couldn't go in we had to keep calling for updates, they said they were putting him in an induced coma.
"He never came back after that. We never got to speak to him again, he never woke up from that coma.
"He was strong, healthy, he was a good man. We can't believe he has gone."
Floral tributes and messages have been left at the security hut outside the hospital where Tony used to work by colleagues.
Tony's funeral is taking place on May 12 and the procession will go past the security booth before travelling to the cemetery.
A spokeswoman for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, said; “It is with great sadness that we can confirm one of our Trust colleagues died from a covid-19 related illness.
“Whilst Tony Kabia worked for Kingdom Security for eight years, he was part of the MFT family. He was a valued and respected member of both the security team and all the hospital teams who worked with him.
“We extend our sincere condolences and deepest sympathies to Tony’s family and all our thoughts are with them at this incredibly difficult time."
