A Merseyside Police sergeant heartbreakingly told how his dad "died alone" after contracting coronavirus.
Retired sergeant Richard Lloyd, 57, who previously served as an officer in Merseyside, died in hospital on Saturday on the Isle of Man.
His devastated son Andrew, currently employed by Merseyside Police - also as a sergeant - described his utter sense of loss.
Paying tribute on social media, he wrote: "My dad died today in Isle of Man.
"I live in UK. I am his only son.
"I can't make his funeral. My 87-year-old nan is isolated in a care home.
"He leaves a wife.
"He died alone but with a team of now traumatised medics.
"If 1 person stayed home, he'd be alive.
"Stay home. Please."
Described as a "giant of a man" and "father figure" to police officers on the Isle of Man, Mr Lloyd followed in the footsteps of his parents, who served on the Merseyside force, in a family who left an indelible mark on law enforcement in the county.
He later moved to the Isle of Man to carry on his police service and went on to become head coach of the island's judo team.
In response, a medic told grieving son Andrew: "So sorry for your loss.
"The consultant and nurse stayed with him, holding his hand."
Tributes poured in for Mr Lloyd including from the island's Chief Constable Gary Roberts, who said: "Today has been the saddest of my 36 year police career.
"So many of us are heartbroken after the death of a friend, colleague and giant of a man, who has been taken by this wicked virus."
Mr Lloyd, from Ballabeg, served 30 years as a police officer before he retired in September 2012.
He leaves his wife Glen, his mother Rita, son Andy and granddaughter Ffion who "he adored."
Chief Con Roberts added: "Richie Lloyd was a wonderful man. He was kind, caring, brave, loyal and utterly dedicated to public service.
"I have known him for nearly 30 years and in that time I have never heard anyone - colleague, member of the public or even those people who get into trouble say a bad word about him. He had a wonderfully disarming sense of humour.
"It has become a cliche to talk about the values required to be a police officer. Richie was what I want every police officer to be like. He cared about people, he never put himself first and he loved serving the public."
Isle of Man Constabulary historian Dean Johnson said: "It would not be an overestimation to say that the vast majority of police officers and staff on the island have in some way been positively influenced by this giant of a man.
"...he was nobody's fool but he just had the most engaging and charming manner that disarmed all but the most hardened of hearts.
"We loved him, purely and simply.
"...his wonderful character kept sparkling, although undoubtedly the role he excelled in and loved the most was that of father and grandfather."
