The father of the 14-year-old boy who became Europe’s youngest victim of coronavirus has said he has been left “devastated” by his son’s loss.
Portuguese teenager Vitor Godinho, 14, became the youngest person to die after being infected by COVID-19 in the early hours of Sunday in Sao Sebastiao Hospital in the town of Santa Maria de Feira in the northern Portuguese metropolitan area of Porto.
His father, also named Vitor Godinho, has now expressed his grief over his son’s death, writing on social media: “I’m mourning today. My boy died unfortunately. I am devastated.”
The grieving father’s friends showed their support for him online, with one writing: “Be strong friend, sending a big hug.”
Another wrote: “My sincerest sentiments to your family and especially to your Vitor. Stay strong friend. He is going to be watching over all of you.”
Whilst ‘Marcio Mendes’ added: “I’m in shock Vitor my friend, what a huge loss, stay strong to you and your family. My thoughts are with you.”
Vitor Godinho 14-year-old COVID-19 victim Vitor Godinho 14-year-old COVID-19 victim
Local media report the victim suffered from psoriasis but had no major underlying issues with his condition.
The President of the Municipal Council of Ovar, the town where Vitor was from, told local newspaper Correio da Manha: “It’s a day which was very much negatively marked by the death of this boy. Unfortunately, it is not the only case. From Saturday until today we have had three deaths. There has been suffering for our whole town.”
The Director of the Directorate-General of Health (DGS) Graca Freitas said: “He did have Covid-19, which does not prevent him from having other equally serious and infectious situations that are being investigated. In addition, he had a basic condition that could lead to some immunosuppression.”
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Story By: Alex Cope, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash
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