Yorkshire paramedic 'taken down in a week' by virus, say friends

A 57-year-old paramedic who died after catching coronavirus was extremely fit and had no underlying health conditions, his friends have said.

Mark Stanley, who was stationed at Halifax Ambulance Station, in West Yorkshire, died in Calderdale Royal Hospital on Thursday after a week-long battle with the virus.

Mr Stanley, who was a paramedic for more than 30 years after military service in the Life Guards, leaves a wife and two grown-up daughters.

Colleagues gathered outside his station in Halifax on Thursday evening to pay tribute to him during the Clap For Carers.

Friend Mark Rattigan, who is also a paramedic, said:

Mr Stanley, from Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, was the second member of Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) staff to die this week after contracting Covid-19.

The other has not been named but YAS said they were an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician, from North Yorkshire, who died on Tuesday.

Chief Executive Rod Barnes said: