The family of a man who died after contracting coronavirus have paid tribute to the "hardworking" father and grandfather they say was more than "just a statistic".
John Evans, 86, from Carmarthen, died in hospital days after testing positive for the virus.
His daughter Maggz Appleton said he fell ill with the virus after being admitted for a separate health issue.
When phoning the hospital for an update on his condition, she said she was told he was suffering a fever and would be tested for Covid-19.
To the family's relief, the test came back negative. But after persistent symptoms, a second test was administered a few days later.
It revealed the devastating news that he had coronavirus.
Maggz said: "I saw him in hospital when he was first admitted.
"Once he came back as testing positive for Covid-19 they wouldn't allow me to come in.
"Then I saw on the news that the home secretary said people should people be able to visit their loved ones if they're nearing end of life.
"I got in touch with the hospital immediately and said I wanted to come in."
By that point, she said her father was "essentially unconscious" and he died on Saturday.
"The difference between having spoken to him on FaceTime two days earlier was ridiculous," Maggz said.
"He was himself then. He was smiling and cheeky. And then I went in to see him and he just wasn't there anymore.
"It was devastating."
She said the family was told early on that he was not eligible to be put on a ventilator.
"I found that quite hard to hear. That felt like a real kick in the stomach.
"I understand he was elderly. He was very high risk, but you always wonder, would it have made a difference?
"To be perfectly honest, until four days ago, I still felt he might come home because of his spirit and everything that he's been through already."
She said the life-long farmer had survived a number of battles in his life: prostate cancer, the loss of his young daughter, the milk quotas in the 80s that nearly put his agricultural business under, and a devastating incident on the farm years earlier which left him with a fractured skull and temporary paralysis.
"He managed to scrape his way back through sheer hard work and determination," Maggz said.
She added:: "It's a tragedy my father got the virus but it's not the fault of the hospital. The virus is indiscriminate. Glangwili Hospital and the frontline staff are doing the best they can. What's happened is an example of why everyone has to follow advice and not assume they are immune."
She said she is heartbroken her "kind and honest" father won't be given the proper send off he deserves given the ongoing pandemic.
"So many people knew him, respected him, admired him and loved him.
"He loved farming. He loved Wales. He was born and bred in this area, everybody knew him.
"Going into town with him used to be a complete nightmare. It would take hours more than it should because everyone would stop to talk him."
Maggz added: "Not only was he a dad, he was a brother, uncle, grandfather and great-grandfather.
"He was the hardest working man I know. He fought and survived so many things.
"He is not just a statistic of this horrible, cruel virus. He was known, respected, liked and loved by many and his loss leaves a gaping hole in our lives."
