Dr. Cenover Nicandro “Nicko” Bautista, a young doctor helping in the fight against the novel coronavirus was among eight people who died after a plane on a medical evacuation flight caught fire while taking off at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
The 33-year-old Bautista was one of the frontliners at the Mandaluyong City Medical Center.
The Agusta WW24 aircraft carrying the group caught fire while taking off.
An American national, a Canadian national and six Filipinos including Bautista perished in the flight. The Filipinos also included a flight medic, a nurse, and three flight crew.
Hours before the incident, Bautista posted on Facebook that he can’t wait for the COVID-19 crisis to be over.
The doctor said he is afraid but he knows he is needed in the fight.
His sister, Ria, described him as a strong and determined man.
During their last conversation, she said he was in high spirits and still found ways to make things light despite being at the forefront of the COVID-19 fight.
She said they had plans to gather again as a family once the Luzon-wide lockdown is lifted.
CNN Philippines