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The mother of a 36-year-old London bus driver who died after contracting coronavirus has called for Sadiq Khan to see “the real face of the tragedy” by meeting victims’ families.
Emeka Nyack Ihenacho, who drove the number four bus from Blackfriars to Archway, died at the end of March after fighting Covid-19 for two weeks.
Fourteen people who worked for public transport in London have died, Mayor of London Mr Khan confirmed on Wednesday, and nine of those were bus drivers.
Mr Khan said he is addressing “all the things that drivers are concerned about”, but said Government advice stipulates that protective equipment should only be used in “care settings”.
But Mr Ihenacho’s mother, Anne Nyack, has called for Mr Khan to “get out there” and see what condition bus drivers are working in.
Before and during Coronavirus lockdown – In pictures
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Buckingham Palace
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Piccadilly Line tube
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Big Ben
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Millennium bridge
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Wembley Stadium
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St Pancras International train station
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Downing Street
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Victoria Station
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Regent Street
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The Mall leading to Buckingham Palace
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London’s National Gallery in Trafalgar Square
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Edinburgh’s Royal Mile
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Barry Island, South Wales
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Bath
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London’s Waterloo station
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London Bridge
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London’s Canary Wharf Jubilee Line platform
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London’s Canary Wharf Station
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London’s Buckingham Palace
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London’s Tower Bridge
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London’s Leicester Square
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London’s Millennium Bridge with St Paul’s Cathedral
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London’s Criterion Theatre
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London’s Palace Theatre
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London’s Phoenix Theatre
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London’s Canary Wharf Station
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Bournemouth beach
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Bath
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Bath
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Barry Island, South Wales
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Bournemouth beach
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Buckingham Palace
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Piccadilly Line tube
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Big Ben
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Millennium bridge
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Wembley Stadium
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St Pancras International train station
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Downing Street
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Victoria Station
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Regent Street
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The Mall leading to Buckingham Palace
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London’s National Gallery in Trafalgar Square
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Edinburgh’s Royal Mile
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Barry Island, South Wales
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Bath
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Bath
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London’s Waterloo station
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London Bridge
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London’s Canary Wharf Jubilee Line platform
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London’s Canary Wharf Station
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London’s Buckingham Palace
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London’s Tower Bridge
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London’s Leicester Square
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London’s Millennium Bridge with St Paul’s Cathedral
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London’s Criterion Theatre
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London’s Palace Theatre
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London’s Phoenix Theatre
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London’s Canary Wharf Station
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Bournemouth beach
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Bath
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Bath
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Barry Island, South Wales
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Bournemouth beach
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Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain after Mr Khan, she said: “He needs to get out there and look at the buses and see what condition the drivers are operating in.
“They are at risk. My son was at risk. Sadly he died.”
Mrs Nyack, 62, claimed her son had no mask or gloves, and he was asthmatic and “left open to the elements”.
She said: “I don’t know how Sadiq Khan can turn around and say the buses are being cleaned, because they are not.”
Mr Khan said on Wednesday the measures on London buses “are the most enhanced measures of any buses across the country” and transport staff “are the heroes of our city”.
“We’re using anti-viral disinfectant, the sort of stuff they use in hospitals to make sure everything is clean including the touch points, steering wheels, handles, garages, rest rooms,” he told BBC Breakfast.
“We’ve also made sure there is a perspex barrier between the driver and the passengers with a protective film to avoid particles or droplets coming from people’s mouth on the driver.
“We’ve also made sure no passenger can sit near a driver.”
TfL is also piloting a scheme which will see passengers using the back door to board.
But Mrs Nyack has called for Mr Khan to meet the families of the bus drivers who have died as a result of the virus.
She added: “I certainly haven’t had a conversation with him. I want him to see the real face of the tragedy – which is me, and all the other bus drivers who have lost their lives.
“He should meet the families.”
Coronavirus hits the UK – In pictures
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Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield
PA
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An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London’s Piccadilly Circus
PA
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Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown
Andrew Parsons
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Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas’ hospital
Getty Images
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Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in “PE with Joe” a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak
PA
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Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno
@AndrewStuart via PA
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Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed
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A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus
PA
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Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue
Reuters
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A young man cuts another man’s hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford
Reuters
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General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London
via Reuters
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Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues
Reuters
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A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace
Getty Images
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A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home
PA
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Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak.
PA
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers
PA
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A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of “panic buying” cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus.
Getty Images
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People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour
PA
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Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus
PA
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Children are painting ‘Chase the rainbows’ artwork and springing up in windows across the country
Reuters
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Social distancing in Primrose Hill
Jeremy Selwyn
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Westminster Bridge is deserted
PA
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A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended
PA
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An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station
Jeremy Selwyn
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Homeless people in London
AFP via Getty Images
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A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow’s street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss
PA
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The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic
PA
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A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world
Reuters
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Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside
PA
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Britain’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street
Reuters
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The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh’s Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak.
PA
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Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear
PA
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A sign at a Sainsbury’s supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world
Reuters
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Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh
AFP via Getty Images
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A sign advertising a book titled “How Will We Survive On Earth?”
Getty Images
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A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria
Jeremy Selwyn
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A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads “Diseases are in the City” in Edinburgh
AFP via Getty Images
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Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors
PA
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A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh
PA
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A quieter than usual British Museum
Getty Images
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A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask
SplashNews.com
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A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station
Jeremy Selwyn
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A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre
Getty Images
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A deserted Trafalgar Square in London
PA
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Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport
Getty Images
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Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield
PA
2/45
An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London’s Piccadilly Circus
PA
3/45
Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown
Andrew Parsons
4/45
Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas’ hospital
Getty Images
5/45
Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in “PE with Joe” a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak
PA
6/45
Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno
@AndrewStuart via PA
7/45
Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed
8/45
A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus
PA
9/45
Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue
Reuters
10/45
A young man cuts another man’s hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford
Reuters
11/45
General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London
via Reuters
12/45
Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues
Reuters
13/45
A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace
Getty Images
14/45
A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home
PA
15/45
Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak.
PA
16/45
Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers
PA
17/45
A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of “panic buying” cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus.
Getty Images
18/45
People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour
PA
19/45
Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus
PA
20/45
Children are painting ‘Chase the rainbows’ artwork and springing up in windows across the country
Reuters
21/45
Social distancing in Primrose Hill
Jeremy Selwyn
22/45
Westminster Bridge is deserted
PA
23/45
A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended
PA
24/45
An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station
Jeremy Selwyn
25/45
Homeless people in London
AFP via Getty Images
26/45
A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow’s street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss
PA
27/45
The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic
PA
28/45
A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world
Reuters
29/45
Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside
PA
30/45
Britain’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street
Reuters
31/45
The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh’s Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak.
PA
32/45
Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear
PA
33/45
A sign at a Sainsbury’s supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world
Reuters
34/45
Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh
AFP via Getty Images
35/45
A sign advertising a book titled “How Will We Survive On Earth?”
Getty Images
36/45
A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria
Jeremy Selwyn
37/45
A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads “Diseases are in the City” in Edinburgh
AFP via Getty Images
38/45
Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors
PA
39/45
A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh
PA
40/45
A quieter than usual British Museum
Getty Images
41/45
A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask
SplashNews.com
42/45
A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station
Jeremy Selwyn
43/45
A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre
Getty Images
44/45
A deserted Trafalgar Square in London
PA
45/45
Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport
Getty Images
Describing her son, she said: “He was my son, I loved him dearly, his family loved him, his gran is in pieces.
“He was a lovely man, heart of gold, would help anybody – not just me, his family, but his friends.
“[He was] full of laughter, he was a joker, always had a nickname for every one of us and I’m going to miss him.
“I miss him every waking moment. I get up every morning and have a cry for him.
“Why couldn’t I be here to stop him from going to work?”
She added: “That will be my fight for my son’s legacy – all bus drivers in London and the country and the world get protection.
“That will be my fight for my son.”
In a statement to the Evening Standard, Mr Khan said: “I’m absolutely devastated to hear Emeka Nyack Ihenacho has lost his life after testing positive for coronavirus.
“My thoughts are with his loved ones at this awful time.
“As Mayor, I am writing to all families of transport workers who have lost their lives, and have contacted Mr Ihenacho’s family to offer my support and deepest condolences.
“Transport staff are heroes of our city, doing vital work to keep London’s transport links open so nurses, doctors and other frontline workers can get to where they are needed most.
“My top priority is keeping Londoners safe and City Hall and TfL are working with unions to do everything we can to protect bus workers and passengers, in line with PHE advice.
“All drivers are shielded by a clear screen and as of last night a film has been added to this on the vast majority of routes to provide an extra layer of protection.
“We will also be trialling middle door only boarding on several routes by the end of this week following discussions with Unite the Union.
“TfL have also enhanced cleaning, are stopping passengers from sitting near drivers and boosting social distancing at stations and stops.
“We will continue to make enhancements across public transport in London to ensure there are even higher levels of protection for our hard-working staff.”
