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COVID TORMENT

Nurse found dead in car from ‘overdose’ after struggling to cope with losing patients to coronavirus

A NURSE was reportedly found dead in his car from a suspected overdose after struggling to cope with losing coronavirus patients. 

William Coddington, 32, a nurse at JFK Medical Center in Florida, reportedly overdosed after dealing with countless COVID-19 deaths in his intensive care unit.

 Nurse William Coddington wears PPE inside a hospital in West Palm Beach
Nurse William Coddington wears PPE inside a hospital in West Palm BeachCredit: Reuters
 Coddington was found dead in his car
Coddington was found dead in his carCredit: Reuters

Following a fight on April 25, his mom checked his phone's geolocation and saw he wasn't at the hospital, which prompted her to drive over to the Deerfield Beach hotel's parking lot.

There, Carolyn Coddington found her son, a recovering addict, dead from what his family believes was an overdose after he grappling with the virus onslaught for weeks, according to Reuters.

His dad said cops obtained a video showing his son sitting in his car when a second car pulls up and “some kind of exchange” ensued, which he suspected was a drug deal.

His son's friends recalled Coddington's struggle on as his loved ones paid tribute to the healthcare worker during a virtual funeral on Wednesday, NBC Miami reported.

His mom said her son couldn't meet with his sponsor as a result of the pandemic.

 Friends say he struggled in the weeks leading up to his death
Friends say he struggled in the weeks leading up to his deathCredit: Reuters
 Coddington had complained about the lack of PPE at his hospital, who have since said they have adequate supplies
Coddington had complained about the lack of PPE at his hospital, who have since said they have adequate suppliesCredit: Reuters

“And his friends, nobody wanted to see him because he worked in a hospital, not even to sit 6 feet apart," she explained.

“What you or I may find as upsetting, or bothersome – that life could be devastating to him,” remarked another friend, Robert Marks.

Skye Alexander recalled how Coddington began to pull back from others in the weeks leading up to his death as "despair" crept in. 

In mid-April, he had complained about the situation and lack of PPE on Facebook.

What you or I may find as upsetting, or bothersome – that life could be devastating to him.

Robert Marks

“In my hospital we are rationing 1 n95 mask for my whole shift,” Coddington wrote. “We are running out of gowns.

"We are having people make makeshift face shields that end up snapping.”

His father recalled how Coddington's face shield fell off once as he intubated a patient and he "felt things splash on his face" days before his death, reported Reuters.

“You are so needed right now by others. You can be great,” his dad told him in an April 1 text. “Please please bury me some day. Don’t make me bury you … I love you.”

Broward County Sheriff’s Office is investigating his death and foul play isn't suspected.

Kathryn Walton, a spokeswoman for JFK Medical Center, said the hospital’s goal was always to protect employees.

Walton said the hospital had an “adequate supplies of PPE” and is “taking steps to conserve PPE because we do not know what our future needs will be.”

William’s family doesn’t know if he availed of the mental health counseling the center provided over the phone.

  • If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255

 

 

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