DEVASTATED colleagues at Warrington Hospital have paid tribute to a 'dedicated and exemplary' nurse who sadly lost his life to coronavirus this week.

Joselito Habab contracted Covid-19 while working on the frontline of the pandemic.

The 46-year-old sadly succumbed to the virus in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Known as Jo to his colleagues, he worked at Warrington Hospital for 18 years and is described by staff as a 'kind, considerate gentleman who touched so many lives in so many different ways'.

Having trained as a nurse in his native Philippines, Jo was well-known and highly respected across many departments in Warrington Hospital.

He achieved his NMC registration in 2003 and was a staff nurse in Trauma and Orthopaedics until 2011.

Jo then became a clinical nurse educator in 2011 during which time he was awarded Employee of the Month.

He was recently promoted to Orthopaedic Trauma Nurse Co-ordinator but before becoming ill, Jo was back in a key clinical education and training role keeping others safe by doing PPE training and FIT testing for face masks.

In a statement from the Trust, the hospital said: "He was an exemplary nurse and role model and fiercely proud of being both a nurse and a member of the WHH family.

"He will be very sadly missed by all who knew and worked with him."

After contracting Covid-19, he spent several weeks in ICU at Whiston Hospital.

Sadly, Jo took his last breath with his wife Michelle and sister by his side.

He also leaves behind his teenage son Dylan.

His family joined the minute’s silence to honour this remarkable nurse, husband, father, friend and colleague this morning, Friday at Warrington Hospital, led by chief executive professor Simon Constable.

There was a simultaneous event at Halton Hospital led by the Trust’s chairman Steve McGuirk.

You can donate to help Joselito's family at www.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-joe-habab-a-true-nhs-hero