A pensioner who had hadn't eaten for more than week as he isolated alone, terrified he had coronavirus, has died in hospital after an off-duty nurse rushed to help him.

Lucy Duncan, 24, was driving home from a 12-hour shift at Wigan Infirmary on Thursday night when the man's car bumped into hers.

The man, aged 73, opened his door and grabbed Lucy's arm in desperation, telling her he feared he had coronavirus.

He had been isolating at home without food for over a week - as he had no support network to call on.

Concerned for his health, mental health nurse Lucy called an ambulance and followed him to hospital in her car.

Without any family or friends to call, Lucy stayed with the man for several hours, comforting him and holding his hand.

Lucy shared a picture of herself after her shift on Facebook in a post that since gone viral, with social media users praising her for her selfless actions.

Sadly, she received a call this morning (Saturday, March 28) to say the man had passed away in the early hours.

(Image: Lucy Duncan)

"It's really upsetting, but I know that I managed to get him the help he needed," Lucy told the Manchester Evening News.

"I know I improved the way he died because he could have been in his flat and not been found for days - or longer."

Lucy said the pair formed a close bond in their short time together. They had arranged to go for a coffee if he recovered.

"While I was in the hospital with him I was holding his hand and he kept pulling me closer and squeezing my hand," Lucy added.

"He told me 'I am so lucky that I crashed into a person like you'.

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"He was just an absolutely amazing person and I am so happy that I was a part of his life."

Lucy is now having to self-isolate on her own as she waits to hear from the hospital if the man tested positive for COVID-19.

Her mother, who is also a nurse, and her brother are staying elsewhere.

"It has been quite difficult to wind down from," Lucy said.

"Reading all the messages of support has been really overwhelming - I am just a normal girl I'm not used to my phone ringing like this."

(Image: MEN MEDIA)

Lucy says her family were able to visit her to drop her off some food and supplies.

"I managed to speak to them whilst they stood in the front garden and that has made my day," she said.

"It just makes you appreciate who difficult it is for the people who are self-isolating on their own.

"I'm basically in his position now but I have social media and food and my family to talk to.

"I just can't imagine what he was going through, it is crazy not having someone to speak to face to face."

Simon Barber, chief executive at North West Boroughs Healthcare said the story brought a tear to his eye.

"I spoke to her earlier to say a massive thank you and well done in person and she really is the most genuinely caring person," he addd.

"I’m not surprised she’s been overwhelmed by all the messages of support – it’s pretty incredible how much attention her social media post has attracted.

"I and the rest of North West Boroughs Healthcare are so very proud of Lucy’s quick-thinking and selfless actions to help someone in need.

"She is everything we could possibly want our staff to be and is a shining example of true NHS compassion in these difficult times. What a superstar."