Teen, 14, becomes Europe’s youngest coronavirus victim

Teen, 14, becomes Europe’s youngest coronavirus victim
# 30 March 2020 09:04 (UTC +04:00)

Vitor Godinho, 14, tragically died in a hospital near Porto in the early hours of Sunday morning after falling ill with the virus, APA reports citing The Sun.

The schoolboy had no underlying health conditions, and had only suffered from psoriasis, a skin disorder that can sometimes affect the immune system.

Vitor, from Ovar in the north of the country, was rushed to Sao Sebastiao Hospital in nearby Santa Maria da Feira, where he later tragically passed away.

Medics are said to have decided against transferring him to a hospital with a paediatric A&E unit in Porto, Portugal’s second largest city, because of the severity of his condition.

His death comes after healthy 16-year old schoolgirl Julie Alliot died of the coronavirus in Paris on Wednesday.

She was previously Europe's youngest victim of the virus, and also had no underlying health conditions.

Tributes flooded in to remember the boy, who was a popular futsal player, a game similar to five-a-side football.

The teenager’s futsal club said in a statement: “This time you didn’t get past the rival, like you did so many times.

“We’re devastated, lost for words. Rest in peace champion.”

And wellwisher Ana Pereira Pereira said: “I am thinking about his family with a lot of sadness.

“An enormous hug to them. Another angel has gone to Heaven.”

Raquel Filipa added: “My heart goes out to all his family and friends.

“A young person with so many years ahead of him who didn’t deserve to die.

“For a son to go before his parents must be one of the worst difficult things in life for his mum and dad.” Rest in peace Vitor.”

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