THE family of a well-known businessman who died after getting Covid have paid tribute to the medical staff who looked after him for more than 16 months.
Mohammed Farooq – known to friends as Fazza, from Stockton, died in December after getting Covid in 2020.
He survived a long battle in intensive care but died at the end of last year, aged just 53.
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His family has now paid tribute to the hard work of the NHS staff who looked after him, and his son Amar Shazad, 33, who also had to undergo treatment at the University Hospital of North Tees at the same time.
He spent time in a coma in the hospital's critical care unit after getting the virus in 2020.
He was treated in the unit at the same time as Amar, in April of that year.
Though he was discharged in May 2020, he continued to suffer with illness and his health deteriorated.
He had a cardiac arrest in the August of that year and spent further time in hospital.
In October of that year, he was well enough to leave hospital – moving to the Bridge Care Centre in Middlesbrough but was never able to go home.
His family – who run and own Tees Valley Cabs and are well known in the area – have paid tribute to him.
One of his daughters, Ambreen, 29, said: “I want to thank all of the NHS staff who helped my father – thanks to them and their outstanding care, we got an extra 16 months with our father.
“Fazza was a much-loved dad, husband, grandfather and friend to so many people.
“Sadly he never recovered from the virus – we would like to thank everyone for their condolences.”
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Aneesa Farooq, 26, another daughter, said: “This has had a devastating effect on our family. We have lost our father and we will never get him back.
“We know what a loss this has been for us – we don’t want another family to go through what we have.
“The mental health impact, the stress, the anxiety, I would not wish this on anyone.
“We want to remind people, this is a real virus, this is making people very ill. Please continue to play your part – self isolating when you need to, wearing a mask when appropriate, washing hands, keeping your distance and taking the precautions needed.
“And of course, getting the vaccine and making sure you are protected.”
The family from Stockton includes wife Sughra, 53, and children Ambreen, Aneesa, and Haaris, 21.
Mohamed was the first member of the family to pick up the virus after he started feeling unwell and was struggling to breathe.
Then, just a few days later, Amar also started to feel sick and was also admitted to intensive care.
A few weeks later, Mohammed was taken off ventilation after a total of 34 days.
Then Amar was always discharged from the unit after 56 days in critical care – and is making a recovery in the respiratory unit.
Aneesa added: “Amar has made a fantastic recovery, we are so so thankful for that.
“We just all want my father’s death not to be for nothing. If it can remind people to continue to stay safe, that is what we want.”
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