Emotional moment hospital porters form guard of honour at funeral for their colleague, 63, after he died from Covid just days before he was due to receive vaccine

  • Krzysztof Gogolewski, 63, was porter in maternity unit of Poole Hospital, Dorset
  • Contracted Covid-19 on same week he received an email inviting him to get jab 
  • He was rushed to same hospital where he worked but he died on February 16
  • Medics lined up outside hospital as Mr Gogolewski’s funeral cortege drove past

An army of hospital porters formed a moving guard of honour for a beloved colleague who died coronavirus days before he was due to get the vaccine.  

Krzysztof Gogolewski, 63, had worked as a porter in the maternity unit of Poole Hospital in Dorset for 12 years.

The much-loved frontline worker contracted Covid-19 on the same week he received an email inviting him to get vaccinated.

His condition deteriorated and he was rushed to the same hospital where he worked – but he tragically died on February 16. 

Doctors, nurses, paramedics and other hospital staff lined up outside the hospital as Mr Gogolewski’s funeral cortege drove past on the way to Poole Crematorium.

An army of hospital porters formed a moving guard of honour in Dorset for a beloved colleague who died coronavirus days before he was due to get the vaccine

Krzysztof Gogolewski, 63, (pictured with his wife Margaret) had worked as a porter in the maternity unit of Poole Hospital in Dorset for 12 years

Doctors, nurses, paramedics and other hospital staff lined up outside the hospital as Mr Gogolewski’s funeral cortege drove past on the way to Poole Crematorium

They were joined by a crowd of 500 members of the public who applauded the NHS worker who valiently worked on the Covid-19 frontline throughout the pandemic. 

He left behind his wife of 36 years, Margaret, daughter, Marta, sons Dominik and Bartosz, and four grandchildren.  

Marta, 35, said: ‘We had been expecting maybe ten people outside the hospital so it was amazing and beautiful to see so many people there for him.

‘It meant a lot and my mother who was crying when she saw them all. It meant so much to us.

‘My brother Bartosz lives in California and couldn’t be there but he was watching it all on Zoom and I was holding up m cameraphone to show him.’

Mr Gogolewski’s funeral cortege drove past Poole Hospital in Dorset. Staff stood outside to clap for him

Debbie Fleming – chief executive of University Hospitals Dorset – said: ‘Krzsyztof was a much-loved and valued member of the Poole Hospital family who left a positive and lasting impression on all who met him.

‘The incredible number of staff, and indeed members of the public, who gathered outside the hospital to remember him and pay their respects are a fitting tribute.

‘Our thoughts and condolences are with Krzysztof’s family and friends at this time.’

Mr Gogolewski received an email inviting him to get vaccinated in the same week he tested positive for coronavirus.

Marta, 35, said: ‘We had been expecting maybe ten people outside the hospital so it was amazing and beautiful to see so many people there for him.’ Pictured: Medics clapping as his funeral cortege drove past

Mr Gogolewski received an email inviting him to get vaccinated in the same week he tested positive for coronavirus. Pictured: Mr Gogolewski’s funeral cortege

Marta, 35, added: ‘It meant a lot and my mother who was crying when she saw them all. It meant so much to us.’ Pictured: Medics clapping as Mr Gogolewski’s funeral cortege drove past

He would have been able to book in for a test within a few days.

Marta said: ‘We think he caught it from working on the frontline. 

‘He was around people who had coronavirus all the time and he had to take positive tests in clear bags to other hospitals.

‘My father was an amazing man and I miss him like crazy. Covid is so horrible and is taking a lot of good people from this world.’

The family had moved from Poland to Britain in 2005.

Mr and Mrs Gogolewski were planning to retire in two years time and had bought a home by a beach in Poland. 

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