James Harrison: Minute silence organised for hero Covid nurse who was killed while cycling in Edinburgh

A minute's silence has been organised for James Harrison, who was killed after his bike collided with a van on Mount Vernon Road.

Mr Harrison was a lead research nurse in cardiology and had recently volunteered in an intensive care unit to support the coronavirus response.

The minute silence is to be held on July 2 at 8.45 am at the spot of James’ accident on the junction on Mount Vernon Road and Gilmerton Road.

The Facebook page invites people to: “please come to respectfully observe with appropriate social distancing a minute’s silence for the tragic passing of much loved father, husband and volunteer ICU nurse James Harrison.”

Tributes have been pouring in for the 36-year-old, who was also an official for Scottish Athletics, as well as a team manager at Corstorphine AAC.

On their Facebook page, Scottish Athletics wrote: "All at Scottish Athletics were shocked and saddened to learn of a tragic bike accident in Edinburgh which led to one of our officials, James Harrison, being killed.

"Corstorphine AAC athlete and team manager, James was one of our up-and-coming Start Team members and his mother, Annette, is another member of that team.

"We send our deepest condolences to his wife, Dr Rowan Harrison, their two young children and all the rest of the family as well as his friends in athletics and beyond."

Professor Alex McMahon, NHS Lothian's executive director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Healthcare Professionals, said: “It is with great sadness that we learned of the death of our colleague James Harrison.

“James was a much loved and well respected member of the NHS Lothian team working as a lead research nurse in cardiology.

“In recent months, James volunteered in our intensive care unit to support the Covid-19 response, demonstrating his enduring commitment, compassion and determination to support both patients and staff.

“James will be truly missed by all the colleagues he worked alongside, and by the wider research community here in Lothian and across Scotland.

“From everyone at NHS Lothian, we offer our heartfelt condolences to the Harrison family. Our thoughts are with James’s wife and two young children at this truly difficult time.”

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