Kenyan Nurse in UK Hailed as Hero After Saving Baby During Manchester Hospital Crisis

Country: United Kingdom
Date Published: December 12, 2025

MANCHESTER, UK – A Kenyan nurse working in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) has captured hearts across social media after a viral X thread detailed her life-saving intervention during a chaotic incident at a Manchester hospital last week. Florence Muthoni, a 32-year-old expatriate from Nairobi who has lived in the UK for six years, was praised by colleagues, patients, and thousands of online users for her quick thinking when a newborn went into distress amid a power outage caused by severe winter storms.

The story exploded on X on December 12, starting with a post from verified NHS whistleblower account @NHSHeroesUK, which shared a 30-second video clip of Muthoni performing emergency CPR on the infant while directing staff in a darkened ward. "This Kenyan angel didn't hesitate. Power out, panic in, but Florence Muthoni from Kenya saved this baby's life. Diaspora excellence! #NHSHeroes #KenyansInUK," the post read, garnering over 15,000 likes and 4,000 retweets within hours. Regular users, including Kenyans abroad, flooded replies with personal stories of Muthoni's dedication, with one thread from influencer @KenyaDiasporaWatch (120k followers) compiling testimonials from her coworkers.

Discussions on X highlighted the broader contributions of Kenyan healthcare workers in the UK, amid ongoing debates about NHS staffing shortages. Users pointed out that over 10,000 Kenyans are registered nurses in the country, often filling critical gaps. "From Kenya to Manchester, our nurses are carrying the world on their backs. Proud! 🇰🇪❤️," tweeted @UKKenyanVoice, a popular diaspora account, sparking a trending hashtag #KenyanNHSHeroes that trended in the UK and Kenya top 10 by evening. However, some posts raised concerns about exploitation, with critics like @MigrantRightsUK noting the grueling shifts and low pay that Muthoni and others endure.

Muthoni, reached via X direct messages by several journalists, humbly downplayed her role in a follow-up post: "Just doing my job. Prayers for the family and all babies in distress. God bless." Her story has inspired a wave of positivity amid UK's harsh winter, with donations pouring into a GoFundMe for the baby's family. Kenyan MPs and the diaspora ministry reposted the thread, calling for better recognition of expatriate workers. As X users continue to share, Muthoni's act stands as a beacon of resilience for Kenyans living abroad, blending triumph with calls for systemic change in global healthcare.