A Chinese medical worker has reportedly died from a cardiac arrest brought on by exhaustion after insisting on working 10 days straight to help fight the coronavirus epidemic.

Pharmacist Song Yingjie was based in Hunan, China and was helping conduct temperature checks at motorway toll booths as well as distributing medical supplies in the area during the coronavirus outbreak.

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The 28-year-old reportedly insisted on working every day to help fight the virus, working at least from 4pm to 12am for 10 days straight, according to the deputy director of the medical centre where Song was a pharmacist, Zhou Xiaonian.

Song Yingjie. Credit: AsiaWire / AsiaWire/Australscope

It is unclear how much overtime he may have done around the basic shift.

However, after finishing his shift on 3 February Song reportedly dropped some his colleagues at their homes before going home to his dormitory.

Pic shows: Song Yingjie pictured with his colleagues Credit: AsiaWire / AsiaWire/Australscope

His roommates then later found his dead body in the dormitory with reports stating he is believed to have died from a cardiac arrest brought on by exhaustion.

His father Song Guanghui told reporters: “I also have a daughter in Wuhan who can’t come back. You’re asking if I’m worried? I’m very worried.”

The medic insisted on working 10 days straight to help fight coronavirus. Credit: AsiaWire / AsiaWire/Australscope

The medical worker has been labelled a “hero” by social media users and his unnamed uncle said: “My nephew was usually very amiable.

“No matter who he saw, he would always have a smile on his face.”

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“He would help his parents with farm work in the fields, plant saplings and do housework. It’s not easy to find a young man like him.”

There have been 24,561 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, with 492 deaths and 911 recoveries worldwide.

What is the coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that can cause a range of symptoms including a runny nose, cough, sore throat and fever. Some are mild, such as the common cold, while others are more likely to lead to pneumonia.

The latest strain was discovered in the Chinese province of Wuhan.

How do you get coronavirus?

China says the virus is mutating and can be transmitted through human contact.

It’s primarily spread through a sick person coughing or sneezing on someone but a person could also become infected through contact with the virus particles on a surface, NSW Health warns.

What are coronavirus symptoms?

Symptoms include fever, cough and difficulty breathing. Most of those affected are older people and those with underlying health conditions.

How dangerous is the coronavirus?

The virus has caused alarm because it is still too early to know how dangerous it is and how easily it spreads between people.

So far, at least 490 people have been killed and thousands more infected – nearly all in China.

How do you treat coronavirus?

As it stands, there is no vaccine for the virus and because it is new, humans have not been able to build immunity to it.

A group of Melbourne researchers have been tasked with finding a vaccine, while China is testing the HIV drug Aluvia as a treatment.

How do I protect myself from coronavirus?

WHO’s standard recommendations: