A giant of grassroots football and devoted Liverpool FC fan is "finally at peace" after dying with coronavirus, said his heartbroken family.
Danny Sharma, who was in a high risk category due to his diabetes and other health issues, died at 1am yesterday, around a week after coming down with the tell-tale cough and high temperature.
The 38-year-old had been posting regular updates on Facebook from his bed in Hammersmith Hospital, where his growing fears were clear.
One post, which showed the severity of his condition, said: "Corona infection in my lungs they wanted to put me in a 7 day coma to let body recover! But due to underlying conditions not an option apart from fight it conscious scary."
Danny's brother, 36-year-old Vinny Sharma, told the ECHO: "He was a fantastic guy with a big heart, and he is someone who we are going to miss a great deal.
"Hopefully he will find some peace."
Vinny said staff at Hammersmith Hospital "did their best" for his brother, who lived with their mum Parveen in the family home in Hillingdon, Middlesex, "until the very end."
He said Danny had been mainly staying at home since the pandemic struck, but may have contracted the virus attending essential medical appointments.
Vinny said: "The were very good, all the way through they were trying their best for him, even until right at the end they were trying their best to see if they could help him.
"We lost my dad around 18 months ago, he had cancer but a chest infection and pneumonia killed him, so we knew what happens with lung problems.
"But we were hopeful until the end, I had prepared for the worst but still hoped for the best.
"I have to be honest, before this I didn't take it that seriously. I thought it was just a cold and if you are young you will be fine.
"But when you see it close up it brings home how serious it is."
The Sharma family are of Indian heritage, and Vinny says it is traditional in his culture for immediate family to hold an open house for 12 days after a death so that wider family and friends can pay their respects.
However due to their recent contact with Danny, Vinny and his mum are now in self-isolation.
He said: "Normally the door is always open, the stove is always on and your family are close around. I am in isolation, but it is not so bad for me because I have a partner and a little one, but my mum is all on her own."
Vinny said his brother was a huge football fan, and before health and mobility problems took their toll would travel to watch Liverpool games at Anfield.
Vinny, who is an Arsenal fan, said Liverpool's charge to what would have been this year's title left Danny "with a smug smile on his face."
He said: "He had been to Anfield a lot of times, he absolutely loved Liverpool."
Vinny also shared a video of Danny playing in a charity match at Anfield in 2009, which he said was a dream come true.
He said: "He had a lot of mobility problems in recent years so it is strange to see him running around. I hadn't seen him running for a long time, but now he is at peace hopefully he can run again."
Closer to home, Danny was a major figure in local Sunday league football and was club secretary for Ivy Leaf Football Club, based out of the Ivy Leaf bar in West Drayton.
Barry Wheeler, coach of the team and a close personal friend of Danny, told the ECHO: "He was such a big-hearted person.
"He had a very difficult life in a lot of ways with his health issues and a lot of people would have just given up, but he just put a smile on his face and he would do anything for anyone.
"He was a huge influence on the football community, if you needed any advice or someone to speak to he would be there."
Danny was also assistant Sunday secretary for the Middlesex County Football League, and had been involved with numerous Sunday league teams over the years.
Middlesex CFA secretary Stephen Hosmer said: "He was generous to a fault, an absolute diamond. I remember he first set up a football team about 20 years ago and I have known him since then.
"He came on as my assistant about six or seven years ago. If anyone in grassroots football needed a volunteer or asked for help he would always be like; 'I can do that'. "
Danny, who also DJ'd at events and went by the nickname DJ Dan, had been struggling with grief after losing his dad, Jim Sharma.
According to Mr Hosmer, Danny told family "he just wanted to be with his dad" shortly before his death.
Other Middlesex Sunday league teams posted tributes on social media, including Sandgate FC who posted on Twitter: "It comes with great sadness to hear about the passing of Danny Sharma
"Us at Sandgate F.C send our condolences to his family and friends, Middlesex CFA and Ivy League FC during this time.
"A man that has gone above and beyond for the game we love."
A friend and fellow Liverpool fan posted on Twitter: "Heart breaking time as Covid-19 claims the life of a dear friend and to say my heart is torn in 2 is an understatement.
"We should be planning our trip to watch Liverpool lift the title but instead I’m sat here not knowing which way to turn. RIP big man. YNWA."
