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Coronavirus: Teenage victim Luca Di Nicola was ‘very healthy’ – family says

By Samantha Day • Published: 31 Mar 2020 • 23:31

LUCA was taken by ambulance to the North Middlesex Hospital, north London, last Tuesday and he died 30 minutes later.

The family of Luca Di Nicola, who died after testing positive for coronavirus, have paid tribute to the ‘very healthy’ teenager.

The NHS has said the 19-year-old did not have underlying health conditions.

Luca, an assistant chef from Italy, died in London after testing positive for Covid-19.

It is understood he was ‘very healthy,’ and was from Nereto in central Italy.

He was taken by ambulance to the North Middlesex Hospital in Enfield, north London, last Tuesday – but died 30 minutes later, from apparent fulminant pneumonia.

Luca’s father, Mirko, told La Repubblica that his son had contracted the virus, and that the family received an email from British medical authorities saying a post-mortem swab had confirmed that.

Luca’s brother, Davide Di Nicola, has paid tribute to his sibling on his Instagram, saying “I love you brother.”

He said: “We both grew and matured and you, surely more mature than me, had the courage and the desire to bring new goals.

“Cooking, your greatest passion would have taken you far.

“This Carnival photo represents one of the few hangovers taken together, I drank a little to tell the truth, but I had a lot of fun staring at you and holding you.

“I would have liked to spend so many other days and evenings with you and I swear that I will take you with me every day, on every occasion, every time I take the field.

“I will try to express some of your wishes and fulfil part of your dreams, it will be like doing it together also because you are here with me and you will always be. I send you a hug up there, to that starred restaurant.

“I love you my brother!”

Luca’s brother Davide (R) says he had ‘the courage and the desire to bring new goals’. Pic: Davide di Nicola/Instagram

Luca was unwell for a week before he died, according to the newspaper, and claimed that his GP had given him some paracetamol and said he was “young, strong”, and that “he did not have to worry about that bad flu”.

But on Tuesday, it is reported, that he had “chest pains”, and collapsed shortly afterwards.