Third Russian doctor plunges from coronavirus hospital window

A third Russian doctor has plunged from a hospital window after complaining about medics facing intolerable coronavirus pressures.

Alexander Shulepov, 37, is fighting for his life with head injuries after taking part in in a video which claimed he was ordered to work despite testing positive for Covid-19.

He and colleagues also warned about PPE shortages in Voronezh city. Later - lying in a coronavirus hospital bed - Shulepov made a second video to retract the claims amid suspicions he was pressured to do so.

On Saturday, while being treated at Novousmanskaya district hospital, the experienced ambulance doctor plunged from a second floor window sustaining skull fractures. He is now in a grave condition.

Ambulance doctor Alexander Shulepov (left), 37, and ambulance paramedic Alexander Kosyakin, (right). Shulepov is fighting for his life with head injuries after taking part in in a video which claimed he was ordered to work despite testing positive for Covid-19

Shulepov made a second video to retract the claims amid suspicions he was pressured to do so

Russia suffers 10,633 new Covid cases in 24 hours giving it fastest-growing rate in Europe Russia recorded a new record rise in coronavirus infections today with 10,633 cases in the past 24 hours, taking the total to 134,687. Deaths rose by 58 to 1,280, official figures show, as Russia is now recording more new infections than any European country. Front-line medical workers have been hit hard with the Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin admitting around 2,000 suffering from coronavirus in the capital city. Moscow has emerged as a hotspot for the virus in Russia, with the mayor earlier estimating from screening results that 2 per cent of the population has been hit - more than a quarter of a million people. More than half of the new deaths were in Moscow - some 34. President Vladimir Putin says the situation remains 'very difficult' with another 200,000-plus under medical supervision, suspected of contracting the disease in Russia.

Two senior women doctors in Russia have died recently after falling from hospital windows amid reports they had challenged their superiors over a lack of PPE for coronavirus patients.

Shulepov was filmed with paramedic colleague Alexander Kosyakin who - a day earlier - had been summoned by police under suspicion of spreading fake news after complaining about PPE shortages.

Their hospital chiefs claimed the allegations were untrue, but the medics believed Shulepov's infection proved the lack of protection equipment.

In the video Kosyakin said: 'Ambulance doctor Alexander Shulepov is next to me, he is just confirmed Covid-19.

'The chief doctor is forcing us to work, what do we do in this situation?

'We are not leaving the shift…

'Myself and Alexander has been working together for a month.

'Everyone says it's fake (but) these are real facts for you.'

Three days later after being hospitalised, Shulepov recorded a video claiming his condition had improved.

'I have a runny nose, otherwise all is well,' he said.

Doctor and acting head of Krasnoayrsk Veterans hospital, Yelena Nepomnyashchaya, died after falling out of the 5th floor office window

He claimed that in the earlier video 'we were high on emotions' and that after he was found to be Covid-19 positive, he was taken off his shift.

This has led to allegations that was forced to record a message from his sick bed clearing his hospital bosses.

Hospital chief doctor Igor Potanin has refused to comment.

In another case, Dr Natalya Lebedeva, 48, plunged 60ft to her death from the sixth floor of a Moscow hospital after colleagues said she was unfairly blamed for the spread of coronavirus at her clinic in Star City, near Moscow, the training centre for cosmonauts.

She had become infected from Covid-19.

Dr Natalya Lebedeva, 48, plunged 60ft to her death from the sixth floor of a Moscow hospital after colleagues said she was unfairly blamed for the spread of coronavirus at her clinic in Star City, near Moscow, the training centre for cosmonauts

Alexander Kosyakin had been summoned by police under suspicion of spreading fake news after complaining about PPE shortages

Dr Yelena Nepomnyashchaya, 47, a mother of two, sustained fatal injuries after falling 60ft from a window at her Krasnoyarsk hospital.

Colleagues said she had complained about an 'acute shortage' of personal protection equipment for doctors and nurses.

It came as Russia recorded a new record rise in coronavirus infections today with 10,633 cases in the past 24 hours, taking the total to 134,687.

Deaths in the country also rose by 58 to 1,280 as Russia is now recording more new infections than any European country.

Front-line medical workers have been hit hard with the Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin admitting around 2,000 suffering from coronavirus in the capital city.