A hugely popular and much-loved healthcare worker in Cornwall has died after developing symptoms of Covid-19.

When the family of Malcolm Rowe announced the news of his passing on Facebook earlier this week the post received more than 500 comments from devastated friends and people in the community.

Malcolm, known to many as Mal, was an ambulance advanced technician for 32 years, moving to Helston from Birmingham 22 years ago and providing emergency care across Cornwall.

He 'retired' from service in September 2013, but almost immediately moved on to becoming a driver for the out-of-hours 111 service, based out of Helston Community Hospital.

He was admitted to hospital on January 17, having been advised to go there by the doctor he worked with when he began finding it hard to breathe.

Malcolm was put on oxygen, but was transferred to the intensive care unit on January 22, going onto a ventilator six days later.

Sadly, despite fighting off one bout of pneumonia he developed a second, more severe kind, and died on Monday this week, February 15, aged 62.

His youngest son Sam said: "He was an amazing, loved husband, dad and granddad. Lots and lots of people knew him.

"A lot of people have said how dad helped them when he was an ambulance technician. We've had really nice comments."

Malcolm died after going into hospital with Covid-19 symptoms

Malcolm died after going into hospital with Covid-19 symptoms

Malcolm is survived by his wife of 40 years, Irene, who works at Trengrouse nursing home, their four children Emma, David, Dan and Sam, along with a daughter-in-law and son-in-law, and eight grandchildren.

Outside of work he was a familiar face in the local football scene, accompanying Dan while he played in matches with RNAS Culdrose Football Club, Helston AFC and for Cornwall, as well as David while boxing.

Sam added: "He was a devoted husband; he was my mum's world and rock. They were both inseparable."

A funeral for Malcolm is due to take place on Friday March 5, at 11am, which due to Covid rules is strictly limited to a small number of family members.

However, former colleagues of the ambulance service have promised to escort the hearse from his home at Hellis Wartha, through Helston at around 10.30am, to Treswithian Downs Crematorium in Camborne, while others will perform a socially distanced guard of honour outside the crematorium.