Pensioner With Coronavirus Found Without Food for 10 Days!
Pensioner found without food for 10 days. This can happen in England and it can happen here, our elderly need our help more than ever during this COVID19 lockdown. Click here, join us and help the Irish Food Aid project.
Lucy Duncan, 24, had just finished a 12 hour shift before the crash on Thursday night, but stayed with the OAP - who had suspected COVID-19 - for five hours in hospital.
After the crash in Wigan, the 73-year-old told Lucy he had no family he was still in contact with and had not eaten for up to ten days because he was self-isolating during the coronavirus crisis.
He also told her he feared he had contracted the deadly virus because he was struggling with his breathing.
But Lucy told BBC Breakfast that she learned the man had sadly died after she kept returning to see him in hospital.
She said: "I managed to get a message to him last night that I was asking about him. And I found out this morning that he had passed away in the early hours of the morning.
"I've a had a little cry before I came on the show."
She added: "I know that he was also very fond of me. He was almost very surprised when I kept running back to him and I kept showing up.
"His eyes lit up every time I went back and held his hand. It was amazing to be part of his life."
Lucy, a mental health nurse at the North West Boroughs NHS Trust, was heading home from Wigan Infirmary after a 12-hour shift when the crash happened.
She was driving her Fiat 500X at about 7.45pm on Thursday night when she spotted a red Vauxhall Corsa coming in the opposite direction.
Lucy said: "I could see he was veering onto the wrong side of the road and then, as we passed, the front end of his car hit the side of mine.
"I wasn't hurt, only shocked. I turned the car round and thought that he had pulled over too, but actually he was driving very slowly.
"I followed and he came to a stop. As I approached the car I could see that he was an elderly man."
'STRUGGLING TO BREATHE'
Lucy said the pensioner was "grey and streaming with sweat".
She added: "He was in poor shape. He was also struggling to speak and breathe.
"He grabbed my arms and I leaned in to him and he said 'I'm sorry but I think I have coronavirus'.
"He was really confused and drifting in and out of consciousness.
"I told him he needed an ambulance. I went to my car and luckily had a mask with me but no further personal protection equipment.
"He had gone out in his car to get some food and essentials, as he knew he would die without them."
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS - STAY IN THE KNOW
Don't miss the latest news and figures - and essential advice for you and your family.
To receive The Sun's Coronavirus newsletter in your inbox every tea time, sign up here.
To follow us on Facebook, simply 'Like' our Coronavirus page.
Get Britain's best-selling newspaper delivered to your smartphone or tablet each day - find out more.
Paramedics arrived and took the man to hospital with Lucy following in her car.
She stayed there for several hours while he underwent various tests including one which showed that his lungs were only working at 50 per cent capacity.
Lucy, from Atherton in Lancashire, is now self-isolating for the next fortnight which has meant her mum, brother and his girlfriend have had to move out of the family home.
Thousands of well-wishers told Lucy she is a "hero" for what she did off-duty after she posted about the incident on Facebook.
Lucy said she was "overwhelmed" by the response and added: "What people have said has been wonderful and I have cried.
"But really I can't think anyone else would have done any different if they had been in my situation.
"It didn't look like he would make it through the night but the last time I rang he was sitting up in bed having a cup of tea."
Simon Barber, Chief Executive at North West Boroughs Healthcare, said: "Lucy's story is absolutely fantastic. It brought a tear to my eye.
"I spoke to her earlier to say a massive thank you and well done in person and she really is the most genuinely caring person.
Be the first to comment
Sign in with