Heartbreaking Pictures Show Lonely Funeral Of Boy, 13, Who Died From Coronavirus
This is the heartbreaking moment Britain's youngest coronavirus victim was buried without his mother and siblings nearby after they were forced to self-isolate.
Two siblings of Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab, the 13-year-old who died after testing positive for Covid-19, have developed symptoms of the disease, according to a family friend.
This meant Ismail's mother and six siblings have been forced to self-isolate at their home in Brixton and were unable to attend his funeral today.
He was buried at the Eternal Gardens Muslim burial ground at Kemnal Park Cemetery in Chislehurst by undertakers wearing protective equipment as a small number of mourners watched on from a short distance away.
Family friend Mark Stephenson, who set up an appeal on GoFundMe for the family, said Ismail's younger brother and older sister have developed mild symptoms including a temperature and loss of taste.
Mr Stephenson previously said: "Shaykh Sharif Zain will be leading the funeral and I will be delivering a short speech for the Abdulwahab family and a few close family and friends.
"We hope that we can send a live stream of the funeral to his mother and siblings so they can be there remotely, but they are obviously devastated that they can't be there in person again.
"It's extremely upsetting for everyone involved, but they have been very moved by the warmth and very positive messages of support from people following their appeal."
Family members were not allowed to be at Ismail's bedside when he passed away as he became the UK's youngest coronavirus victim.
They expressed their grief at the young boy's passing, describing him as "gentle and kind".
A statement said: "We would like to pay tribute to our young boy Ismail Mohamed, who has passed away at the tender age of 13.
"We are heartbroken as a family due to the devastation caused by the coronavirus as it becomes too real for us as a family and community.
"Ismail was a loving son, brother, nephew to our family and a friend to many people who knew him. His smile was heart-warming and he was always gentle and kind.
"Sadly, he passed away on Monday 30th of March at King's College Hospital due to COVID-19 without his family present and this is very painful for us as family, particularly as a mother.
"However, we are comforted by our belief that every life shall taste death and the fact that we have no say when or how this will come about.
"As Muslims, we believe that this life is short and temporary and we have to remain patient when facing hardship."
Ismail, who had no apparent underlying health conditions, was described by his family as a "gentle and kind" boy with a "heartwarming" smile.
He tested positive for Covid-19 last Friday, a day after he was admitted to King's College Hospital.
Ismail died on Monday at 3am after his lungs failed and he had a cardiac arrest.
On Wednesday, the NHS confirmed a 13-year-old with no known underlying health condition was among patients who had died after testing positive for Covid-19.
Mr Stephenson, college director at the Madinah College where Ismail's sister works, set up the GoFundMe page to raise money for funeral costs and for the family, who also lost Ismail's father to cancer.
By this morning more than £67,000 had been raised, far exceeding the £4,000 target.
He tested positive for Covid-19 last Friday, a day after he was admitted to King's College Hospital.
Ismail died on Monday at 3am after his lungs failed and he had a cardiac arrest.
On Wednesday, the NHS confirmed a 13-year-old with no known underlying health condition was among patients who had died after testing positive for Covid-19.
Mr Stephenson, college director at the Madinah College where Ismail's sister works, set up the GoFundMe page to raise money for funeral costs and for the family, who also lost Ismail's father to cancer.
By this morning more than £67,000 had been raised, far exceeding the £4,000 target.
Family members were not allowed to be at Ismail's bedside when he passed away as he became the UK's youngest coronavirus victim.
They expressed their grief at the young boy's passing, describing him as "gentle and kind".
A statement said: "We would like to pay tribute to our young boy Ismail Mohamed, who has passed away at the tender age of 13.
"We are heartbroken as a family due to the devastation caused by the coronavirus as it becomes too real for us as a family and community.
"Ismail was a loving son, brother, nephew to our family and a friend to many people who knew him. His smile was heart-warming and he was always gentle and kind.
"Sadly, he passed away on Monday 30th of March at King's College Hospital due to COVID-19 without his family present and this is very painful for us as family, particularly as a mother.
"However, we are comforted by our belief that every life shall taste death and the fact that we have no say when or how this will come about.
"As Muslims, we believe that this life is short and temporary and we have to remain patient when facing hardship."
[ By Mirror ]
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