A HEARTBROKEN wife has paid tribute to her hero pharmacist husband who died from coronavirus after battling the disease for more than a month in hospital.
Dad-of-two Mehool Patel, 48, who owned Bliss Chemist in North London, was described by friends as "one in a million" who "would do anything for his patients".
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Mr Patel died in hospital on Thursday after fighting the virus for a month on a ventilator.
His devastated wife Arpeeta, 46, said: "He was a true NHS hero who continued to work because he wanted to help his patients. He will be dearly missed by all his family and friends."
Health Secretary Matt Hancock claimed yesterday that 98 frontline staff have died.
Others put the figure at more than 140 and many families said their deaths were caused by a lack of adequate PPE.
Mr Patel owned Bliss Chemist along with his two brothers Chirag and Hamansu.
Paying tribute, close family friend Shital Patel told the Sun Online: "He was very dynamic and passionate about his profession. He absolutely loved his patients and would do anything for them.
"He was a fantastic pharmacist. Outside work, he was a great father, a great husband.
"He was very family orientated. Anyone who needed help in the community, he would go out of his way to help them.
'ONE IN A MILLION'
"He never looked at himself, he always looked out to help others.
"He was one in a million. I won't be able to replace him as a friend.
"He was absolutely amazing. If you needed a favour, he was there. He was a very supportive and caring person. His patients are devastated. The chemist was open for very long hours, people would rely on his services. He had a real personal touch.
"He just got on with his job during the coronavirus crisis. He just wanted to help patients. It was all about the patients and getting their medication to them. Obviously he was out there on the frontline. It's so scary. I never thought it would happen to someone so close. He fought for 4 weeks on a ventilator.
"He got better, then he dipped again, then got better, then dipped at the end. He died on April 23. He was first taken to hospital on March 24. He fought so hard."
She added: "His boys are completely devastated."
Dr Mahendra Patel, Royal Pharmaceutical Board member, said: "Pharmacists like Mehool are putting their lives forward in the battle against Covid-19 - on the front line of attack.
"We simply can't simply find enough words to describe how much their commitment, effort and dedication means to everyone and how hugely it is valued. My deepest sympathies and condolences."
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Yesterday we reported how community pharmacist Jayesh Patel, 53, had died from Covid-19 on April 22.
His brother-in-law, Bharat Patel, told The Pharmacist: "Jayesh was known amongst his family, friends, and work colleagues for his dry sense of humour. He was a humble, simple person who liked the simple things in life. He was warm, approachable and yet a man of principle.
"Jayesh was the youngest of five siblings. He held his parents in very high esteem and loved them dearly.
"A friend and a loving husband to his wife of 23 years and a dedicated father to two beautiful daughters, aged 16 and 19 years old, who were his pride and joy. Jayesh will leave a great void in the lives of many."
Smita Patel, owner of Guildford Chemist where Mr Patel had worked since 2015, described him as a "close friend" as well as a colleague.
She said: "I can't tell you how devastated we are. There is so much grief in my pharmacy at the moment, we're all so upset – we've lost a family member."
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And Pooja Sharma, a hospital pharmacist at Eastbourne District General Hospital, died on March 26.
Her older brother Aman said his 31-year-old sister was the "superstar" of the family.
He said: "Her irresistible laugh, sense of humour and good nature would light up our world and fill it with colours. For this I am eternally grateful that Pooja was my sister."
In Monday night's Downing Street briefing, Mr Hancock announced a life assurance scheme to pay £60,000 to the families of those frontline NHS and social care workers who have died in the course of their duties.
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