Coronavirus: Sky News presenter breaks down in tears as she reads names of victims

‘Behind each number is a personal story,’ Kimberley Leonard says

A newsreader broke down in tears as she read out the names of the latest coronavirus victims live on air.

Sky News presenter Kimberley Leonard’s voice began to fade as she spoke about the lives of those who had died from the virus.

In the middle of a live broadcast, in which she was talking about the personal stories of those who had died from coronavirus, Ms Leonard’s voice broke down as she became visibly upset.

“Pharmacist Pooja Sharma died a day after her father, both passing away from Covid-19,” she said.

“Paying tribute to their friend, her loved ones said her love was contagious and that she gave her friends nothing but love, support, and a tummy ache with all the laughter.”

At this point the newsreader’s voice began to fade and she fought back tears.

She paused and asked viewers to excuse her as she gathered herself.

Ms Leonard had begun the segment by saying, “Behind each number is a personal story,” and was giving mini obituaries of the recent victims of coronavirus.

The UK death toll from coronavirus exceeded 20,000 yesterday in what the home secretary said marked a “tragic and terrible milestone”.

Less than a month ago NHS England medical director Stephen Powis warned keeping the number of UK deaths below 20,000 would be a “good result”.

The UK is now the fifth country in the world to pass the grim milestone of 20,000 confirmed deaths, following Italy, the US, France and Spain.