Hundreds of doctors and nurses line the streets outside hospital to pay tribute at funeral for NHS porter, 61, after he died from coronavirus

• Mike Brown died at Southampton General Hospital Hants, whose trust he’d been employed by for 20 years
• Devastated colleagues said the 61-year-old porter always went ‘above and beyond’ to help others
• His funeral was a private affair but relatives drove past the hospital this morning so staff could pay respects
• Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

Doctors and nurses lined the streets outside their hospital today to pay their respects to an NHS porter who died of coronavirus.

Devastated colleagues said Mike Brown, who had underlying health conditions, always went ‘above and beyond’ to help others.

The 61-year-old died at Southampton General Hospital, Hants, whose trust he had been employed by for the past two decades. 

Mike Brown’s funeral cortege passes the entrance of Southampton General Hospital as hundreds of staff stand and applaud

Colleagues of the 61-year-old porter lined the streets in Southampton this morning and clapped as the hearse drove past

Some staff were seen wearing face coverings as they gathered on the pavement to say goodbye to their former colleague

Staff were determined to show their support for the family of the ‘well recognised and popular’ hospital linen porter

Hospital workers from a number of departments, wearing a range of different uniforms, came to pay their respects today

Hospital staff wearing scrubs take a seat on a wall as they wait for Mr Brown’s funeral cortege to pass by this morning

Mike Brown, pictured, always went ‘above and beyond’ to help others, colleagues said

He had been receiving treatment in the critical care unit until his death in the early hours of April 29.

The funeral itself was a private affair but Mr Brown’s family drove past Southampton General Hospital at 11am today for staff who knew him to pay their respects.

Hundreds of colleagues lined the streets around the hospital and applauded to show how much the experienced porter meant to those he worked with. Many doctors and nurses were in uniform and wearing face masks.

Paula Head, chief executive of UHS, said: ‘Mike had been with our hospital for 20 years and played a significant role supporting services that enable patients to receive great care and experiences.

‘He was well-recognised and popular with so many staff, once nominated by colleagues for a Hospital Heroes award for always going above and beyond and he often shared his good sense of humour with everyone around.

‘Our thoughts are with Mike’s partner, Sandy, and his family and he will remain fondly in our thoughts, particularly those of his close colleagues and the staff he worked with on the wards regularly.’

Colleagues covered their faces with masks and maintained social distancing as they came to pay tribute to Mr Brown

Huge crowds formed along the streets of Southampton for a man who ‘played a significant role supporting services that enable patients to receive great care and experiences’

The funeral cortege this morning drove past markings on the road outside Southampton General Hospital, which read ‘Thank You NHS’

Colleagues applauded in memory of Mr Brown, who they said ‘often shared his good sense of humour with everyone around’

The funeral itself was a private affair but Mr Brown’s family drove past the hospital at 11am today for staff who knew him to pay their respects

Members of the public stood alongside hospital staff to applaud as the procession made its way past his old place of work

Staff came out to remember the porter, who had been receiving treatment in the critical care unit until his death in the early hours of April 29

Hospital bosses, who lined the streets this morning, said: ‘He will remain fondly in our thoughts, particularly those of his close colleagues and the staff he worked with on the wards regularly’

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