Tributes poured onto social media today after ‘beautiful’ young medic Rebecca Mack, 29, passed away

An NHS nurse who ‘helped more people than most will in a lifetime’ has reportedly died aged just 29 after contracting coronavirus.

Rebecca Mack, who had previously worked on the children’s cancer unit at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, passed away on Sunday.

The ‘beautiful’ young medic, from Morpeth in Northumberland, is believed to have gone on to work for the NHS 111 service and was ‘just starting her life’, preparing to buy her first home.

Tributes on social media today described her as an ‘honest, warm and charismatic’ young woman who would be ‘the first in line to tell you off when you were doubting yourself’.


Rebecca with friend Sarah Bredin-Kemp (Picture: PA)

Rebecca was getting ready to buy her first home when she passed away

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Best friend Sarah Bredin-Kemp, wrote: ‘Becca was one of the best friends I’ve ever had. She was a devoted friend, an incredible nurse and an unapologetically imperfect person.

‘She was the most accident-prone, stubborn, chatterbox with a bizarre catchphrase and inappropriate joke for every occasion.

‘She would never take “I’m busy, I’m not coming to the pub” as an answer. She was useless at hiding her emotions: she would just describe things she didn’t like as “interesting” or “alternative”, with an expression of pure loathing.

‘She was a high maintenance, foot-in-mouth oversharer with a love of cheesy music, crappy tv and an inexplicable hatred of small animals.

‘But she would be the first in line to tell you off when you were doubting yourself.

‘She was honest, warm and charismatic. She worked hard and made her family proud every single day.’

Rebecca’s colleague Jamie Young said: ‘Today, the NHS lost an absolutely amazing and beautiful nurse, myself and my colleagues lost the most tremendous clinician. At the age of just 29, she had her entire life ahead of her.’

Rebecca (middle) was ‘honest, warm and charismatic’ (Credits: PA)

One of her best friends described her as ‘high maintenance, foot-in-mouth oversharer with a love of cheesy music, crappy tv and an inexplicable hatred of small animals’

Cousin Chrissy Mack added: ‘So so nice to see so many people saying such lovely things about my cousin.

‘The next NHS doorstep clap will certainly have extra meaning to me, these people are literally heroes. Rest In Peace Becca’

Cheryl Murphy said: ‘Tonight we light a candle for a kind caring nurse who sadly lost her life to covid-19 just starting her life getting ready to buy her first home always smiling rest in paradise and if any one can learn something from this please stay at home and stay safe keep your babies home!’

Rebecca’s colleague, Lauren Callender, added: ‘Sleep tight hunnie Rebecca Mack you truly were an amazing girl and will be missed by many!

‘You could light up a room, so bubbly and caring.’

In a statement, the Royal Victoria Infirmary said: ‘We are aware of the sad news being reported that a nurse, who previously worked in the Royal Victoria Infirmary, has died after contracting coronavirus and our thoughts are with her family and friends.

‘It has been reported that she worked on the children’s cancer unit at the RVI and, understandably, this has caused concerns for many families who are receiving treatment with us.



‘The team would like to send their heartfelt sympathies and condolences to their former colleague and also clarify that she has not worked at the Trust for many months.

‘If your children if currently receiving treatment from us, it is really important you continue to follow the advice and instructions given by your clinical team.’

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