Eyke: Family of first British Ebola victim, William Pooley, say he is receiving “excellent” care

The high-level isolation apparatus in the High Secure Infectious Disease Unit at The Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, London. Photo: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

In their first words since the 29 year-old volunteer nurse was flown back to the UK last night for emergency treatment, his family paid tribute to those who orchestrated his quick return.

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, who contracted deadly Ebola in Sierra Leone, is being treated at a specialist isolation ward at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, north London.

Dr Oliver Johnson, who has been treating patients in Freetown, said his friend Mr Pooley was an “extraordinary guy” who knew the risks involved but was prepared to take them for the sake of the patients and his colleagues.

He said: “He and I spoke about the risk together and I think he absolutely understood that there were risks involved.

“He also knew, though, that he was well trained and there were good precautions in place, so it was a measured risk.

“But where he was in Kenema a number of staff had become sick.

“He was a hugely professional nurse and a hugely dedicated one, so he understood those (risks) but was prepared to take them for the sake of the patients and colleagues he had there.”

Dr Johnson told BBC Radio 4’s World at One: “I knew Will before he first came out to Sierra Leone, we discussed his plans for coming out.

“When the Ebola outbreak really hit, he moved up to Kenema, right to the epicentre of the outbreak to try and help.

“So he and I, my team and him, were in regular contact sharing experiences and when he came to Freetown we would share a beer.”

He added: “Will’s a pretty extraordinary guy. Even for those of us working with Ebola patients in Sierra Leone, he stood out as being particularly brave and really from the beginning he was determined to help in any way he could, not just help patients but I think he had enormous loyalty towards the other staff at Kenema.”