Mr Ahmed, a father of two, died in St George s Hospital in Tooting on Thursday.
ng from coronavirus. though he is reported to have had underlying health problems his death is being blamed on complications aris-
lthough he is reported to have had underlying health problems his death is being blamed on complications aris- g from coronavirus.
COVID-19:
DEATHS....COVID-19:
DEATH OF SIXTH LONDON PHV DRIVER LINKED TO CORONAVIRUS PROMPTS CALL FOR ALL MINICABS TO BE EQUIPPED WITH PPE
The death of a sixth private hire driver in London linked to coronavirus has prompt- ed urgent calls for minicabs to be properly equipped with PPE.
The rising number of deaths has prompted families, MPs and drivers’ associations to make a desperate plea for suitable protec- tive equipment to be issued to drivers.
Transport for London has not cate- gorised taxi drivers as essential workers but has still allowed them to operate with- out any extra protective measures as other countries have implemented. The Nether- lands has introduced a barrier between passengers and drivers but the same has not been enforced in the UK.
ABDULKADIR MOHAMED FARAH BIRIQ
Coronavirus is believed to have claimed the life of a former Somali footballer, who drove for Uber. Abdulkadir Mohamed Farah Biriq passed away at a north west London Hospital on 24 March after ten days in an intensive care unit. He was 59 years old.
Before his death, Farah was acting as an advisor to the Minister of Youth and Sport in Somalia. He was born in Beledweyne and at the age of 17 made his professional football debut, eventually playing for Batroolka Football Club where he had an illustrious playing career until the late 1980s. He left Africa and moved to London in the 90s.
His death was mourned on Twitter by the Confederation of African Football and the Somali Football Federation after his family confirmed Covid-19 had claimed his life.
Haci Ali Dogus HACI ALI DOGUS
Private hire driver Haci Ali Dogus, 49, from Hackney in London, had no underlying health conditions, but died on March 25 after contracting the virus. Mr Dogus, who worked for taxi firm Addison Lee, spent his final days at Homerton Hospital where he was on a ventilator.
His elder son, Mert Dogus, 17, who is study- ing for his A-levels, said he is still aiming to go to university to make his father proud. Mert said: “I 100 per cent believe drivers need PPE or they need help from the Gov- ernment. If they can’t have PPE, then they should stop driving. There’s a problem with a lack of PPE for NHS workers, but cab drivers need it too.”
Mert said his father, who worked six days a week, was convinced he contracted the virus after regularly picking up passengers from Heathrow.
Debbie Mitchener, 47, a neighbour and close family friend has set up a fundraiser for them after worrying about how they would cope financially. She said: “There’s a lot of support for people who are losing their jobs but none for people who are losing their family members. The Govern- ment need to step in and help families like this.”
Paying tribute to Mr Dogus she said: “He was a wonderful family man, He will be missed every day by those boys, it was too soon for them to lose him.”
Abdulkadir Mohamed Farah Biriq
42
If you would like to donate to the fundraiser for Mr Dogus’ family then please visit:
www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory- of-haci-ali-dogus
AYUB AKHTAR
South London Uber driver, Ayub Akhtar died of coronavirus after a passenger “repeatedly coughed” in his PHV a week beforehand, his brother has claimed.
Mr Akhtar, 33, from Norwood, was described as ‘perfectly healthy’ before he contracted the virus. He was rushed to Croydon Univer- sity Hospital after he began having breathing problems. After testing positive for Covid-19, his condition deteriorated, and he was transferred to St. George’s Hospital in Tooting where he sadly died on April 3.
Mr Akhtar, who lived with his mum and sib- lings, has been a taxi driver for the past seven years. His brother said: “Ayub was a tolerant man, really well balanced. He was a Muslim and respected everyone. He loved his family and we loved him.”
The United Private Hire Drivers Association, started a Gofundme page to help with funeral expenses. The page read: “Ayub and his brother Yasser helped found our UPHD organisation and was one of its most loyal supporters. He gave much of himself to help others and to build our movement for change. Together with Yasser, he bravely challenged the terrible injustices of our industry. He stood against discrimination, fought to end exploitation and worked tire- lessly so that drivers might have a better life.
“We have launched this fundraiser to hon- our Ayub’s memory and to help his family.”
To donate to the GoFundMe page visit:
www.gofundme.com/f/ayub-akhtar- memorial.
Ayub Akhtar MAY 2020
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112
