A DOCTOR at Great Western Hospital has died after testing positive for coronavirus.

Dr Edmond Adedeji was being cared for in the intensive care unit and died on Wednesday at the age of 62.

Dr Adedeji’s family asked the hospital to release a statement on their behalf.

They said: “We as a family are grateful to God for the life of Dr Edmond Adefolu Adedeji. He died doing a job he loved, serving others before himself.

“We would like to thank the staff and his colleagues for looking after him during his final days. He leaves behind a wife, three children and three grandchildren.”

GWH chief executive Kevin McNamara said in a statement: “It gives me great sadness to announce the death of a member of our GWH family.

“Dr Adedeji had worked with us a locum registrar in the emergency department since August 2019 and was a respected and well-liked member of the team.

“His family have been informed and we ask that their privacy is respected at this extremely difficult time. On behalf of the whole trust, I would like to extend our sincere condolences to Edmond’s family.

Our thoughts are with them, and his friends and colleagues at the trust.”

He later told the Adver: “We have seen these tragic stories from elsewhere in the NHS and sometimes they can feel more distant. This has brought it right to our door. The staff are shocked and stunned by it.

“We recognise that behind the numbers there is a human face. Edmond had an absolutely selfless service for the care of others and I think that should be acknowledged and celebrated.”

Swindon Borough Council leader David Renard said: “I heard about it yesterday morning. It really brings home to everybody how dangerous and nasty this virus is when health professionals are passing away as a result of it. Everybody at the council sends their condolences to everyone at GWH and to Dr Adedeji’s family.”

Wiltshire police and crime commissioner Angus Macpherson said: “My sympathies are with Dr Adedeji’s family, friends and colleagues. All those who work in the NHS do so to keep us healthy and safe, all to often whilst putting them selves at risk.

“We can help them by acting responsibly this Easter: Stay home, save lives, protect the NHS.”