Communities in Strabane and East Donegal are in shock following the death of a well-known couple who died 12 hours apart after contracting Covid-19.
Loving grandparents Owen and Bredge Ward, both aged 69, passed away at Altnagelvin Hospital on Monday.
The couple had been married for 45 years and have six children and nine grandchildren, with some family living in East Donegal. The couple have another grandchild on the way, who they will sadly never meet.
Mr and Mrs Ward were diagnosed with coronavirus in early October. They were both hospitalised in recent weeks as their health worsened.
Their son Martin told BBC News NI that his mother was beginning to improve last week, until his father “went downhill” and was put into a coma. Mrs Ward’s condition then deteriorated.
Martin said: “She passed away yesterday, then my father, from a position where he was getting better, just completely collapsed and within a couple of hours of my mother dying, he passed away too.
“Even though they were sedated and had pain relief and loving care from the staff at Altnagelvin Hospital, both of them just completely collapsed within a couple of hours and that’s just how it is.
“It’s the hurt and suffering that this virus can cause.”
Read the full report on: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-54977491
