A homicidal Covid-19 carrier in London has been linked to the death of a railway ticket collector of the virus.

Belly Mujinga, 47, reportedly died following infection from Coronavirus after an irate passenger on the station concourse spat on her.

Reports say Mrs Mujinga who had suffered long-term respiratory problems, died in hospital on April 5 – 13 days after the alleged assault at London’s Victoria Station.

The mother-of-one and an unnamed colleague was with her at the time and was also spat on, and both went on to contract Covid-19.

Their attacker, who has not been identified, allegedly told his victims that he had the virus.

Although the other woman recovered, Belly’s condition deteriorated after she started to feel ill.

She died just three days after being admitted to an intensive care ward and put on a ventilator.

Her husband Lusamba, 60, and their daughter Ingrid, 11, never got to say goodbye.

Ingrid had one last video call from her mum in her bed at Barnet Hospital before she became too sick to talk.

Last night, Lusamba said the late Mrs Mujinga had asked for a back-office job when the threat of Covid-19 became apparent in early March.

He said that his wife’s employer, Thameslink, which runs services through the capital, insisted that she should continue dealing with customers face to face before social-distancing rules had been installed.

Lusamba who lives in Hendon, North London, said his wife had made her bosses aware of her health issues following an operation three years ago.

She was diagnosed with the lung condition sarcoidosis, which causes shortness of breath and a persistent dry cough.

“My daughter Ingrid just does not understand what has happened, how we can never be together again,” the former warehouse worker said.

“It’s terrible to lose the person you love so quickly.

“We are sure she got the virus from the man who spat on her, and it could have been so easily avoided.

“He just shouted at them, ‘What are you doing here?’ and then spat over them deliberately. Belly was so upset and so scared.

“Our doctor had told us that she should keep away from people from three months because she was at risk. It was too dangerous, he told us.

“After this happened he called the train company, but by then it was too late, she had already been infected.”

Lusama and his late wife came to Britain from the Democratic Republic of Congo as political refugees seeking refuge after facing persecution in their birth country.

Both had worked hard to get a better life for themselves and their daughter.

The woman was a member of the TSSA transport workers’ union, which has reported the alleged attack to the Railways Inspectorate, the safety arm of the Office for Road and Rail (ORR), for investigation.

It believes the £60,000 compensation which will be paid to relatives of health and care workers who die as a result of the pandemic should be extended to front-line transport staff too.

General secretary Manuel Cortes said parent company GTR did not treat the assault seriously enough.

“Sadly, Belly’s is just one of many family tragedies where children have had their parents taken away from them,” he said. “However, there are serious questions about her death, it wasn’t inevitable.

“As a vulnerable person in the ‘at risk’ category and her condition known to her employer, there are questions about why GTR didn’t stand her down from front line duties early on in this pandemic.”

 Angie Doll, Managing Director of Southern Railway and Gatwick Express said: “We are devastated that our dedicated colleague Belly has passed away and our deepest sympathies are with her family with whom we have been in touch with through this very difficult time.

“Tragically, many people across the country have now been directly affected by Covid-19, including those in the rail industry who are doing the vital job of ensuring train services can continue.

“We take any allegations extremely seriously, and we are investigating these claims. The safety of our customers and staff, who are key workers themselves, continues to be front of mind at all times and we follow the latest Government advice. We urge people only to travel if it is absolutely essential.”

British Transport Police have launched an investigation into the alleged assault.

Anyone with information which may help with enquiries is asked to text 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 359 of 11/05/20.