A staff nurse in a Walsall hospital is fighting for her life after contracting coronavirus.

Mother of three Areema Nasreen, who has no underlying health issues, is critically ill in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Walsall Manor, the hospital in which she has worked for the last 16 years.

Areema first developed symptoms ten days ago, suffering body aches followed by a soaring temperature and cough. Two days ago tests revealed she was positive for the severe respiratory illness.

Her sister, Kazeema, said the family are “heartbroken” but she praised the staff at Walsall Manor Hospital who have gone “above and beyond '' in their care, according to BirminghamLive.

Areema, 36 qualified as a staff nurse in January last year having started at the Walsall Manor Hospital as a housekeeper. Latterly she had been working on the hospital’s Acute Medical Unit.

In an effort to encourage more people to get into nursing, particularly those from Muslim backgrounds, she said at the time of her qualification in 2019: "I would like to think that I can inspire others. I cry every morning because I am so happy that I have finally realised my dream of becoming a nurse.

“I would like to think that I could inspire others; particularly within Muslim communities.”