Mary Agyapong died after becoming infected with coronavirus but doctors managed to save her baby daughter with an emergency caesarean.

A pregnant nurse who tested positive for coronavirus in the UK has died after undergoing an emergency caesarean to save her child.

The Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in the UK said Mary Agyeiwaa Agyapong, 28, died on Sunday and "was a fantastic nurse and a great example of what we stand for".

An internal staff email sent to her colleagues at Luton and Dunstable Hospital said the decision to perform the caesarean came after her condition deteriorated.

RIP Mary Agyeiwaa Agyapong. You beautiful woman, may your daughter grow up knowing that you’re a hero 💙 pic.twitter.com/p3U9yuOTck

— Gigi (@georgiarockett) April 15, 2020

Doctors initially thought Mrs Agyapong was showing signs of improving but her symptoms got worse, Channel 4 News reported.

The NHS Trust's chief executive, David Carter, told Channel 4 that her little girl's survival was a "beacon of light at this very dark time".

Mrs Agyapong's family and friends have set up a fundraising page to help her husband and daughter, which has so far collected more than $100,000. 

"Mary was a blessing to everyone she came across and her love, care and sincerity will be irreplaceable," the page read.