FRIENDS have opened up about an “amazing” A&E nurse who battled to save lives on the frontline, but is now fighting his own battle against Covid-19 in intensive care.

Felix Khor has been on a ventilator in an intensive care unit in Southend Hospital for 30 days battling coronavirus.

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The experienced nurse, who lives in Shoebury, had retired from his role as the hospital resuscitation officer but returned to the hospital’s A&E unit and had helped in the frontline battle of the pandemic.

However, just over a month ago Felix, aged in his 60s, contracted coronavirus.

He has now spent a month on a ventilator fighting for his life.

His close friend, Linda Leak, 73, from Southchurch, a former surgical nurse at the hospital, said: “It’s amazing that he’s still fighting after so long.

"The hospital team is trying to move him off the ventilator but has not been able to do this yet. There seems to be no change at the moment.

“The hospital is like a big family for the staff and while it’s devastating for the teams, they consider it an honour to be able to look after him.

“We are very close and used to see each other very regularly. He is very well regarded and a very memorable guy. He was the hospital resuscitation officer and had retired but went back to do shifts in the A&E department.”

Mrs Leak also revealed Mr Khor had raised fears in mid-March over the personal protection equipment on offer to staff treating Covid-19 patients.

She said: “He came to me on about March 17 and said he was concerned about the personal protection on offer to staff and felt it was inadequate.

“He then text me on about March 25 to say he was very worried about protection and keeping safe from the virus. He’s a very good nurse, one of the best.”

Mrs Leak said Mr Khor gets a lot of pleasure out of helping others and that others would describe him as very clever.

She said he loved nursing and that everyone is routing for him to beat this virus and make a recovery.

There has also been a huge outpouring of support in the community for Mr Khor.

More than 100 people have been posting kind words on the Echo Facebook page for the nurse.

Sarah Rooke posted: “What a wonderful man Felix is. I met him last year when my darling dad was admitted to hospital.

“He was great with my dad and our family going through a tough time. Thoughts and prayers to you and your family.”

Kate Lennie posted: “Felix is an awesome nurse. He teaches life support with such enthusiasm; it’s gutting everyone to hear that he is in this situation.” Mr Khor moved to the UK from Malaysia 30 years ago to train as a nurse and became a British citizen.

Regarding any criticisms about personal protection equipment, a Southend Hospital spokesman said: "The safety of our staff is our absolute priority and we have worked incredibly hard to ensure there have always been sufficient stocks of protective equipment for every member of staff who needs it.

"We fully comply with the Public Health England guidance on the use of PPE.”