B&M worker, 52, dies of Covid hours after testing positive as family blast lockdown flouters

A B&M worker died of coronavirus just hours after testing positive and his family are now urging Brits to respect lockdown rules.

Carl Handley, 52, from Rhyl, worked selling “essential goods” to shoppers during the Welsh firebreak lockdown.

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Carl Handley, 52, from Rhyl, worked selling “essential goods” to shoppers during the Welsh firebreak lockdown[/caption]

But he was admitted to hospital as he struggled to breathe and tested positive for Covid.

The shop assistant told his family he was feeling better, but just one day after the test he suffered a killer heart attack while on a ventilator on October 25.

His devastated family warned lockdown flouters to think twice because “you can’t replace loved ones”.

Niece Katie Williams said: “My uncle had been admitted to hospital on the Friday but had been in touch to say he was feeling better so it was a massive shock to find out he’d passed.

You can keep in contact with friends on FaceTime and you can always rebook holidays, you can’t replace loved ones

Katie Williams

“We are urging people to realise that these restrictions are in place for a reason and not having a bit of normality for a while is a lot easier than losing a loved one.

“You can keep in contact with friends on FaceTime and you can always rebook holidays, you can’t replace loved ones.”

Katie added: “He was a very lovely, family oriented, funny man who made time for anyone and was passionate about rock music.”

A crowdfunding appeal has now been launched to raise cash for his funeral and already passed its £1,000 target.

Any extra cash will be donated to the NHS.

A statement on the page said: “He tried to fight for all his worth and will be sadly missed by all that knew him especially his family, who are all in shock with his sudden death.

“His family have lost a big piece of a collective heart. Carl was a funny, lovely, wonderful brother, uncle, great uncle and a friend to many, who will be missed dearly.”

Carl leaves behind his siblings Jayne, Sally, Denny, Rose, Barry and Andrew.

 

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Carl was described as a ‘very lovely, family oriented, funny man’[/caption]

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Carl died in hospital a day after he tested positive [/caption]