Family’s agony as train station worker mum, 47, dies of coronavirus after passenger claiming to have virus spat at her
THE family of a train station worker who died of coronavirus days after being spat at by a passenger who claimed to be infected have described their agony at her loss.
Belly Mujinga, 47, was working at London's Victoria Station in March when a man targeted her and a colleague - within days both women fell ill.
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"We're still crying, we're still mourning," she said, standing alongside Ingrid.
He said: "It’s terrible to lose the person you love so quickly.
“We are sure she got the virus from the man who spat on her, and it could have been so easily avoided.
“He just shouted at them, ‘What are you doing here?’ and then spat over them deliberately. Belly was so upset and so scared."
Downing Street today said the attack was "despicable".
The Prime Minister's official spokesman added: "Our thoughts are with Mrs Mujinga family's at this terrible time."
It comes as dozens of frontline workers have been spat at or coughed on by people claiming to have the virus.
Ms Mujinga's trade union, the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA), has reported her death to the Railways Inspectorate for investigation and is taking legal advice.
'SERIOUS QUESTIONS'
"Devastated" general secretary Manuel Cortes said they want compensation offered to all frontline workers' families, adding: "Sadly, Belly's is just one of many family tragedies where children have had their parents taken away from them.
"However, there are serious questions about her death; it wasn't inevitable.
"As a vulnerable person in the 'at risk' category, and her condition known to her employer, there are questions about why she wasn't stood down from frontline duties early on in this pandemic."
Yesterday it was revealed cab drivers, shop workers, chefs and security guards are among those most likely to die from coronavirus - but medics are no more at risk than the general public, new figures revealed this week.
We told how the family of London bus driver Mervyn Kennedy, 67, who died from Covid-19 on April 7 blamed his death on a "lack of personal protective equipment".
It comes as TfL said all passengers and staff would need to wear masks on the Underground, and advised people avoided busy times.
This morning packed trains were filled with people heading to work - but not everyone wore face coverings to prevent the spread of the killer bug and sat close to other passengers.
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Yesterday ministers revealed a fresh five-step plan to try and keep all workplaces safe from coronavirus.
New "COVID-19 secure" guidelines are now available to UK employers to help them get their businesses back up and running and workplaces operating as safely as possible.