A distraught critical care nurse who was unable to buy basic foods following a 48-hour shift has urged shoppers to stop stripping supermarket shelves amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In her heartbreaking appeal, Dawn Bilbrough, 51, from York, who had just completed a lengthy and exhausting shift, explained that she had visited her supermarket to pick up basic food items for the next two days when she was left having a 'little cry'.
After discovering there were no fruit and vegetables for her to sustain a healthy living amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the healthcare worker made a tearful plea to the public urging them to 'just stop it'.
Critical care nurse Dawn Bilbrough, 51, from York, urged the public to stop stockpiling food amid the coronavirus crisis
The nurse took to Facebook from the seat of her car to tell the nation: 'So I've just come out the supermarket. There's no fruit and veg and I had a little cry in there.'
'I'm a critical care nurse and I've just finished 48 hours of work and I just wanted to get some stuff in for the next 48 hours.
'There's no fruit, there's no vegetables and I just don't know how I'm supposed to stay healthy.
'Those people who are just stripping the shelves have basic foods you just need to stop it because it's people like me that are going to be looking after you when you are at your lowest and just stop it please!'
After sharing the emotional video, Ms Bilbrough was flooded with messages of support from concerned friends and loved ones, with some offering her some of their very own food items.
One person wrote: 'Oh Dawn, I'm so sorry to see you so upset. The job you are doing is so very important to so many people, and how unfair it is that this means you are last in line for the nutritious food you really need to stay healthy and keep doing that important job. Thinking of you and sending much love.xxx'
The NHS worker asked the public to 'just stop it' after she was unable to buy basic items for herself
While another commented: 'Oh dear Dawn, heartbreaking to see you like this, I feel you, you are strong, and it is so important what you do....and many others...proud proud proud. I will share....'
Another user added: 'Sending you love and strength Dawn Bilbrough xx'
Elsewhere another person offered the nurse some of their own groceries, telling her: 'Dawn bless you, please don't cry! I'm in isolation but I have a bag of potatoes, carrots and a water melon you can have.
'I can leave them on my doorstep for you, double bagged! Be fine once, cleaned and boiled. Please don't cry.'
Miss Bilbrough's daughter Clare, 32, said: 'My mum is working her hardest to look after everyone during this pandemic.
'There's enough to go around for all of us if we all act sensibly. Mum has managed to get the stuff she needs for the next few days now as I think friends have helped her out.
'But she never goes out and buys loads. When everyone is acting irresponsibly they need to take a little thought for the people like my mum who have worked very long hours looking after others.'
The emotionally-charged video comes as retailers stress there is plenty of food in the supply chain but shoppers need to act responsibly to ensure everyone can get what they need- particularly those who are the most vulnerable.
Pictured: Shop shelves are left empty in a supermarket in the centre of York, northern England, on March 19
Today Boris Johnson asked the country to stop panic buying and be 'reasonable' when they went to the supermarkets
Following the rise in panic buying, supermarket chains Tesco and Sainsbury's have announced that they will be restricting customers to only buying three of any grocery item.
Meanwhile, while Asda and Morrisons have announced they too will be restricting purchases across 1,250 regularly-bought lines.
Online retailer Ocado has also temporarily stopped new customers from gaining a membership after they were left overwhelmed by orders from people choosing to self-isolate amid the crisis.
Today Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged the country to stop panic buying and be 'reasonable' when they went to the supermarkets.
'Everyone understands why people are buying stuff - we're being advised to stay at home if we have symptoms.
'However, please be reasonable in your shopping and be considerate of other shoppers as you do it.'
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