A "loving and caring" dad-to-be lost his life to coronavirus just weeks after finding out his wife was pregnant.
Chinedu Ekwunife died at Ipswich Hospital aged 35 after a two-and-a-half month battle with the virus.
His wife Lotachi discovered she was expecting their second child a week after he was hospitalised, and had sent him messages about the baby as medics tried to save his life.
But although nurses had hoped the news would aid his recovery, he passed away on June 14.
The father-of-one, who was born in Nigeria, died with his wife by his side.
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"Over the past couple of months, I have literally seen my whole world swept from under my feet," she said.
"Before I found out about the pregnancy I was worried I had symptoms of the virus - but it was the pregnancy.
"The baby is due in November. I thought maybe the pregnancy was a sign he would pull through and make it out of hospital.
"Even though he was on a ventilator I sent him messages about this good news, and when he started recovering the nurses informed him as well during our video calls, hoping it would help him quickly recover."
Lotachi, a healthcare worker, added that the last few weeks had been a "painful and very difficult" time.
The couple have been married since 2016 and have a daughter, Chimamanda, two.
"Chinedu really loved me and always wanted the best for me and the kids," she continued.
"He was our support system and I can't get myself to start thinking about my world without him.
"I lack words to explain the range of emotions that I have been through since my husband was admitted into the hospital.
"It has been a painful and very difficult time to witness my husband and the father of our kids suffer in the hands of this dreadful virus.
"He fought really hard for over two and half months to stay with us, and we also fought with him with prayers - but God knows the best."
According to the Ipswich Star, Chinedu was re-admitted to intensive care on April 6 after a relapse in his condition.
Chinedu, who worked as a software engineer, had no known underlying health conditions when he was hospitalised.
He moved to Ipswich in 2013 after finishing an MsC degree at Southampton University and also leaves behind two sisters, Kosoluchukwu and Ifeyinwa and two brothers, Emeka and Obinna,
Paying tribute, his younger brother Emeka wrote: "I lack words to describe who and what you mean to me.
"You are a well-balanced personality, cheerful, optimistic, confident, and friendly. Your exit from this world is indeed a big loss.
"We are going to do our best to look after your young family and uphold your legacy."
His youngest sibling, Ifeyinwa, added that he was "a man like no other."
"He made sure I lacked nothing, he nurtured me, taught me, provided for me, fought for me, reprimanded me and most importantly he loved me unconditionally," she said.
Ozioma Uzoegwu, who knew him for 15 years and was best man at the couple's wedding, said medics had been "rooting for you to fully recover".
In a fundraising page for his family, he said: "Chinedu was a great fighter and did everything possible to stay alive for his young family but God had his own plans for him.
"We are grateful for a life well spent and for being such a loving and caring husband to Lotachi and father to Chimamanda and the unborn child.
The GoFundMe page has already raised more than £40,000, quickly surpassing its original target of £10,000.
Chinedu is known to have enjoyed gardening, walking, running and watching boxing in his spare time.
