The son of a top medic who died after warning the government about a lack of PPE for NHS workers on the frontline says he is "100 per cent" sure that shortages are costing the heroes their lives.

Intisar Chowhury, 18, appeared on Good Morning Britain today to speak about the death of his father Dr Abdul Mabud Chowdhury, who lost his life last Wednesday after contracting coronavirus.

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Five days before the 53-year-old was admitted to Queen's Hospital in Romford, east London, he had appealed for "appropriate PPE and remedies" to "protect ourselves and our families".

Intisar told GMB hosts Piers Morgan and Susanne Reid he'd had no idea how concerned his father had been about the lack of kit – adding that Dr Chowdhury had "died so we can live".

"When my father made the post about PPE, the letter to Boris Johnson, I didn't know about it," he said.

"He really just did not want to convey his own fears about his own life and the lives of his co-workers to me and my sister.

'HE DIED SO WE COULD LIVE'

"He was in such an ill state and a painful state.

"He was unable to vocally communicate with me, my sister and my mother, but he made sure that on behalf of his co-workers and colleagues, he would hold the government accountable for not providing enough protection for NHS workers, frontline workers, and I am so proud of him."

Health Secretary Matt Hancock was criticised at the weekend after ministers called PPE a "precious resource".

Mr Hancock said there's enough PPE around if it is used in line with official guidance – but admitted it is taking a "Herculean effort" from the government.

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But Dame Donna Kinnair, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, hit back to say no PPE was "more precious a resource than a healthcare worker's life, a nurse's life, a doctor's life".

It comes as 39 frontline workers have now reportedly died of Covid-19.

Overall, more than 10,000 Brits have died in hospitals after testing positive for the deadly virus.

Piers said: "Matt Hancock has sort of inferred there's maybe too much PPE and they're wasting it."

The teen replied: "There have been failings and I've seen those failings happen.

"In my father's case specifically, it is not necessarily due to a lack of PPE.

"However, in so many cases that he saw, and in so many NHS frontline workers that have passed away, it is 100 per cent a lack of PPE that has caused it."

THANKS GIVEN FOR 'HERO DAD'

Piers said: "Thank you for your father and what he did for this country and the heroism he showed that cost him his life.

"We are extraordinarily grateful."

Intisar said: "Never forget his name. He died so we could live."

Susanna and Piers then spoke to an intensive care doctor at a coronavirus-hit hospital where more than 50 per cent of A&E staff have tested positive for the deadly bug.

Dr David Hepburn, who works at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Wales, told Good Morning Britain in an interview that all medics at the hospital are being advised "not to go into harm's way" if they don't have correct PPE.

He said this would include incidents where coronavirus isn't suspected, including patients with heart attack.

"We are advising our teams that unless you have PPE you shouldn't risk your own life," he said.

Susanna Reid asked: "Doesn't that mean some patients aren't getting the treatment they need?"

Dr Hepburn replied: "You've got to check your own PPE first before you save others."

He admitted this means there "will be delays".

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