Coronavirus: Single mother and carer, 26, dies Published duration 18 April Related Topics Coronavirus pandemic

image copyright Sherrihan Afifi image caption Carer and single mother Sonya Kaygan, pictured with her three-year-old daughter Ause, died on Friday

A 26-year-old carer and single mother has died after contracting Covid-19, her family has said.

Sonya Kaygan died without family or friends near her on Friday morning after spending more than two weeks in intensive care, her cousin Sherrihan Afifi told BBC News.

She also had bronchitis but it is unclear whether she had bronchitis before contracting Covid-19, she said.

More than 14,000 people have now died with coronavirus in the UK.

Ms Kaygan was described by her mother Ayse Mehmet as a "beautiful angel" in a post published on Facebook.

She was "a very gentle, caring, family-oriented person who had a strong character and loved her daughter more than anything", Ms Afifi said.

Ms Kaygan's three-year-old daughter will be looked after by her grandmother.

Ms Afifi said her cousin, who lived with her mother and daughter in Enfield, started feeling unwell with a cough in mid-March, and began struggling to breathe towards the end of the month.

An ambulance took her to hospital on 31 March, Ms Afifi said.

She added: "When Sonya was about to go in the ambulance she was crying and pleading with her mum to please look after her daughter.

"It's so heartbreaking. It's like the girl knew it was the last time she'd see her mum."

image copyright Family handout image caption Ms Kaygan worked at Elizabeth Lodge care home in Enfield

Care UK, which runs the Elizabeth Lodge care home, where Ms Kaygan worked, said it was "deeply saddened" by her death.

Its regional director Deliana Katsiaounis said: "I would like to offer our sympathy and condolences to her family.

"She was a much loved member of the care team who treated residents with kindness and respect."

Enfield Council leader Nesil Caliskan described her death as "incredibly sad".

In a post published on Twitter, Ms Caliskan said: "She was a care worker in an #Enfield care home, looking after our most vulnerable residents."

Ms Kaygan moved to London from her home in Cyprus to be closer to her mother and to have a "better life" about three years ago, Ms Afifi said.