A 'very healthy' 19-year-old succumbs to COVID-19 30 minutes after being taken to the hospital

A 'very healthy' 19-year-old succumbs to COVID-19 30 minutes after being taken to the hospital
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A 'very healthy' 19-year-old succumbs to COVID-19 30 minutes after being taken to the hospital
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Luca Di Nicola, from central Italy, had his whole life ahead of him. Working as an assistant chef in London and maintaining a relatively healthy lifestyle, he was the last person you'd think would become a victim of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

The coronavirus continues to spread on a global scale, and despite original thoughts, it seems to be able to lay claim to any victim in its path. Originating from Wuhan, in the Hubei province of central China, the virus has since spread throughout the globe.

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Last week, a 16-year-old French girl was claimed by the virus after displaying only 'mild' symptoms. In addition, the UK saw the virus claim their youngest victim so far, a 13-year-old boy, following the death of a 12-year-old girl from Belgium who is thought to be the youngest victim in Europe.

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According to his family, Luca had been unwell for about a week prior to his death. He visited his GP who gave him some paracetamol and told him he "did not have to worry about that bad flu". However, it was reported that yesterday (Tuesday), the young man had collapsed after experiencing some 'chest pains'.

According to one of the family members of the young man, they called the ambulance and we're able to revive him however his lungs had collapsed and were filled with water and blood.

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His aunt told the local news:

They intubated him and immediately hospitalised him in intensive care at North Middlesex Hospital in London... But after half an hour, around 7pm, Luca died.

Davide Di Nicola paid tribute to his late brother via an Instagram post in which he stated:

We both grew and matured and you, surely more mature than me, had the courage and the desire to bring new goals. Cooking, your greatest passion would have taken you far. This Carnival photo represents one of the few hangovers taken together, I drank a little to tell the truth but I had a lot of fun staring at you and holding you. I would have liked to spend so many other days and evenings with you and I swear that I will take you with me every day, on every occasion, every time I take the field. I will try to express some of your wishes and fulfil part of your dreams, it will be like doing it together also because you are here with me and you will always be. I send you a hug up there, to that starred restaurant. I love you my brother!
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Nicola Di Luca and brother Davide Di Luca Instagram

Our thoughts are with Luca's family as well as all the families who have been tragically touched by this deadly and unforgiving virus.

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Currently, according to worldometers.info the UK has 25,150 confirmed cases of coronavirus with just under 1,800 deaths. We hope that the public respect and follow the guidelines set in place by the government regarding the lockdown, social distancing and quarantine practices. We all need to do our part to ensure that control over the spread of this fast-acting virus can be attained.

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