A nurse has died after a month after a patient coughed on him and put him into a coma with a mystery disease.
Russell Marsh became critically ill in mid-February while on duty.
The 39-year-old Sydney nurse died on Friday with his wife Helen and their nine-year-old son Ronan by his side.
Russell Marsh, who leaves behind a nine-year-old son Ronan (left) and wife Helen had died a month after going into a coma because by a patient coughing on him
Sydney nurse Russell Marsh, 39, began suffering chills on Valentine’s Day
His sister-in-law Jasmine Nguyen made the heartbreaking announcement on a Go Fund Me page she had set up to finance her loved one’s medical support.
‘With a heavy heart I would like to tell everyone Russell passed away early this morning with his family by his side,’ she said.
‘He fought a hard battle over the past four weeks but unfortunately it was a battle he did not win.
‘We would to thank everyone for their support, prayers, donation and love.’
Russell Marsh was working as an emergency nurse at Fairfield Hospital, in Sydney’s southwest, on February 12 when a sickly patient coughed on him.
Russell Marsh was working as an emergency nurse at Fairfield Hospital, in Sydney’s southwest, on February 12 when a sickly patient coughed on him and made him feel sick
Two days later, on Valentine’s Day, Russell began suffering from chills, uncontrollable coughing and a fever.
He took time off work four days later as he experienced breathing problems.
Emergency doctors then noticed his brain was deprived of sufficient oxygen, and placed him on a ventilator.
On Valentines Day, Mr Marsh had a fever, and five days later he had been put into a coma and was on life support.
Helen Marsh, who was married to her husband for 20 years, said she and the couple’s nine-year-old son Ronan were both left in shock.
‘He just went downhill so quickly,’ she told Nine News in Februray.
Russell Marsh took time off work four days later as he experienced breathing problems
Emergency doctors then noticed he his brain was deprived of sufficient oxygen, and placed him on a ventilator, which was a traumatic experience for his son Ronan
The nurse was put into a coma a week after a patient coughed on him as he was on duty
The sister-in-law of Russell Marsh (pictured with wife Helen) made the heartbreaking announcement about his death on a Go Fund Me page
Jasmine Nguyen, Russell Marsh’s sister in law, said the nurse was ‘a typical, Aussie bloke’.
‘He is someone that’s so big, burly and blokey, so strong, and to see him so weak and fragile has been really hard,’ she said.
His family had fundraised for rehabilitation and medical costs in the hope he would survive.
‘Russell is married to my sister and [they] both went through a hard arduous journey to conceive their now healthy nine-year-old son Ronan through IVF,’ a GofundMe page set up by Ms Nguyen reads.
‘Russell has always been a happy and cheerful young man who celebrated his 39th birthday just last month.
‘We are praying he makes it through this, and although he may suffer on-going neurological issues and require mobility rehabilitation, we all want him to recover and be able to spend many more precious years with his wife and son who mean the world to him.’
Russell Marsh, who turned 39 in January, leaves behind a young son and a wife of 20 years