Woman, 25, Dies Suddenly After Collapsing at Work

A 25-year-old woman has died, weeks after collapsing at work.

Samantha Kimene from Tipperary, Ireland, died last weekend in Tenerife, Spain, where she was living at the time, her uncle, Arturs Kimens, told the Irish Mirror. He said she collapsed at work three weeks ago and was taken to a hospital, where she was diagnosed with leukemia and COVID-19.

She had begun treatment, but it was “too late,” Kimens said.

“She got the diagnosis too late. What happened was, they were just trying to do the treatment for her, and it was unsuccessful because her body couldn’t take it,” he told the outlet.

“She had COVID as well and the virus, or whatever it was, spread through her organs and just… she passed away, unfortunately,” he added.

The grieving uncle told the Irish Mirror that he and Kimene’s mother, Inese, were in Tenerife to make arrangements to repatriate her to Ireland. During his time on the Spanish island, Kimens has had a chance to meet some of the friends his niece made in her new home.

“All the people here that I met, that she was working with, they’re in absolute devastation. They’re devastated that she’s gone, they can’t believe it,” he told the outlet, noting that the 25-year-old was someone who was “loved by everybody.”

“And she meant everything to me,” Kimens added. “I loved her very much and I’m going to miss her.”

Kimens set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to support Kimene’s family. “Please help us raise the funds to bring [her] body back to Ireland, back home for [the] funeral,” he wrote.

As of Saturday, July 19, the GoFundMe has raised more than $25,000.

Kimene’s employer, Paddy O’Kelly’s Irish bar in Tenerife, paid tribute to the 25-year-old in a post on Instagram. Alongside a photo of Kimene posing on a balcony in a black dress, the bar wrote, “It’s with a heavy heart that our colleague and friend, Sam, has sadly passed away. She was a valued part of our team and will be deeply missed.”

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“A beautiful and kind human with the biggest smile,” the message continued. “We’re still in shock and heartbroken 💔. Please keep her family in your thoughts during this difficult time.”

Paddy O’Kelly’s directed people to her uncle’s GoFundMe and also said the pub would be organizing a fundraiser of its own.

The establishment signed off its tribute post, “Rest in Peace Sam. You will be greatly missed. Lots of love. Your Paddy O’Kellys family ☘️.”