THE widow of a John Radcliffe Hospital porter who died of suspected coronavirus has now lost her mother to the virus.

In a cruel twist of events, the deadly disease claimed the lives of Oxford nurse Twilight King’s husband Oscar, and mother Marietta Balume, within days.

Mrs King and her 10 year-old daughter, Gabrielle, were also left hospitalised when they were struck down with coronavirus-like symptoms.

Now a Go Fund Me page has been set up by a nursing colleague of Mrs King.

Ariel Lanada, from Headington, Oxford, said the Filipino Community was left shattered when Mr King Jr, a hospital porter, devoted dad and church-goer, died on April 11.

He said that Twilight and Gabrielle had since made full recoveries, but Mrs Balume had died within days of Mr King Jr.

Mr Lanada said Ms King Jr was in unimaginable grief, saying she "does not deserve this catastrophe".

He wrote: “Losing a husband is extremely difficult, but losing both husband and mother is devastating and almost unbearable.

“Twilight herself and her 10 year-old daughter, Gabrielle, also suffered severely with Covid-19. Both had been hospitalised, though thankfully they are now back at home, being supported by families, friend and the Filipino Community of Oxfordshire.”

Mr Lanada said that he had worked with Mrs King at Iloilo Mission Hospital in the Philippines and in the adult intensive care unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

He added: “She is a very kind, God-loving person, who has not deserved this catastrophe in her life.

“This is an unprecedented challenge for mother and daughter.

“Words are not enough to provide comfort and consolation for their loss.

“No amount of money can help bring back Oscar and Marietta, but financial help will surely assist Twilight and her daughter with the practical challenges that they now face.”

He appealed to "generous and compassionate people" for donations and said she wanted to raise £5,000 for the pair.

Within 24 hours the page had raised £530 from 20 donors.

It has also been shared 169 times.

On April 12, another fundraising page created by the Jesus is Lord Church in Headington, raised more than £8,000 to pay for a memorial to Mr King Jr to help "ease the burden of the family".

The page was flooded with tributes to the late porter, who the church described as a "devoted dad to Gaby who was always doing his job with great enthusiasm and joy".

It said Mrs King had been suffering with severe symptoms and had recently been taken to hospital.

Read more: man found with head injury outside mental health hospital in the middle of the night

Another page started by the daughter of Elbert Rico, another hospital porter who died on the same day as Mr King Jr, has so far raised more than £23,000.

To donate visit GoFundMe.com and search for 'HELP for Twilight who lost TWO of her family'.