Coronavirus: London station ticket office worker dies with Covid-19 after being spat at

A railway ticket office worker has died of coronavirus after being spat at while on duty in central London.

Belly Mujinga, 47, was on the concourse of Victoria station in March when a member of the public who said he had Covid-19 spat and coughed at her and a colleague.

Within days of the assault, both women fell ill with the virus.

Ms Mujinga, who had underlying respiratory problems, was admitted to Barnet Hospital and put on a ventilator but died on 5 April, her trade union the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) has announced.

The TSSA said the death had been reported to the Railways Inspectorate, the safety arm of the Office for Road and Rail (ORR), and the union is taking legal advice on the situation.

British Transport Police (BTP) said on Tuesday morning it was investigating the circumstances leading up to her death.

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said: “We are shocked and devastated at Belly’s death. She is one of far too many frontline workers who have lost their lives to coronavirus.

“Sadly, Belly’s is just one of many family tragedies where children have had their parents taken away from them. However, there are serious questions about her death; it wasn’t inevitable.”

Ten people attended Ms Mujinga’s funeral, according to the union.

Mr Cortes said the £60,000 payment promised to the survivors of health and care workers who die as a result of the pandemic should be extended to the families of all frontline workers.

“As a vulnerable person in the ‘at risk’ category, and her condition known to her employer, there are questions about why she wasn’t stood down from frontline duties early on in this pandemic,” he said.

The union leader added: “Rather than talking about the easing the lockdown, the government must first ensure that the right precautions and protections have been taken so that more lives are not lost.

“Anyone who is vulnerable should remain at home and home working should be the default wherever possible. Our rail industry needs to have a very serious look at what tasks are deemed essential and must put protections in place for all our members and our passengers.”

BPT said in a statement: “British Transport Police have now launched an investigation into a report of two members of rail staff being spat at while working at London Victoria station on 22 March.

“One of the victims, a 47-year-old woman, very sadly died in hospital on 5 April. Enquiries are ongoing and anyone who has any information is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 and quoting reference 359 of 11/05/20.”

The prime minister’s official spokesman described it as a “tragic and appalling case”.

“We specifically strengthened the rules and the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] published their own guidance to ensure people are protected from this sort of behaviour,” he said.

“It’s a really shocking incident and our thoughts are with the victim and their family.”