Ebola nurse proud to have helped victims

William Pooley, Britain’s first confirmed Ebola sufferer, was interviewed by The Guardian just days before he contracted the virus while working in Sierra Leone.

In a short video clip, he described the joy of seeing victims recovered. He said: “It’s great seeing them walking away after some of them have been in a terrible state and me seeing them on the ward.

“But then to see them recover and walk out the door, it’s great.”

The 29-year-old was flown back to the UK for emergency treatment in an isolation unit at the Royal Free Hospital in north London.

His family have paid tribute to those who orchestrated his speedy return. They also urged Britons to consider the thousands in West Africa afflicted by the virus, but dying in their droves because they lack adequate medical care.

They said: “We would like to express our thanks to all involved in bringing our son back to the UK. We have been astounded by the speed and way which the various international and UK government agencies have worked together to get Will home.

“Will is receiving excellent care at the Royal Free Hospital and we could not ask for him to be in a better place. We would like to thank all our family and friends for their best wishes and ask everyone to remember those in other parts of the world suffering with Ebola who do not have access to the same healthcare facilities as Will.”

Mr Pooley, from Eyke in Suffolk, contracted the potentially deadly virus while volunteering at the Ebola centre in Kenema.