A Chinese medic who has been working on the front line of the novel coronavirus epidemic has dropped dead from a cardiac arrest likely to have been caused by exhaustion after working 10 days straight.
Medical professional Song Yingjie was based in Hunan in China and had been helping to check temperatures at motorway toll booths, as well as distributing medical supplies in the area.
The 28-year-old pharmacist had reportedly insisted on working every day from at least 4pm to midnight for 10 days straight, according to the deputy director of the medical centre where Song was a pharmacist, Zhou Xiaonian.
It's not known how much overtime he might have done alongside the basic shift.
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But after finishing his shift on 3 February, Song is said to have dropped some of his colleagues at their homes before going back to sleep in his dormitory.
His body was later found by his roommates in his dormitory. He died from a cardiac arrest believed to be brought on by exhaustion.
Mr Song was a native of Kaiyun Town in Hengshan County and the city government of Hengyang - which supervises Hengshan County - confirmed his death on its official Weibo account.
Mr Song's sister is in quarantine in Wuhan, and has been for nearly two weeks.
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Speaking to local news outlet The Paper, she said her brother was 'outstanding'.
She said: "He always helped with housework at home and was regarded highly at work by his boss.
"His passing is really devastated news to our family."
Mr Song's father told the outlet: "My daughter is in Wuhan and can't come back. It's on lockdown. You asked me if I am worried, of course I am.
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"Then my son worked [as a medic] on the highway. You asked me if I am scared... Now he has died, I am heartbroken."
According to local media, his uncle, who is unnamed, said: "My nephew was usually very amiable. No matter who he saw, he would always have a smile on his face.
"He would help his parents with farm work in the fields, plant saplings and do housework. It's not easy to find a young man like him."
There have been 24,642 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, with at least 493 deaths worldwide so far. Around 13 percent of confirmed cases are said to be in a critical condition.
Featured Image Credit: AsiaWireTopics: coronavirus