Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Jonathan Coles

Newborn baby girl carried behind coffin at funeral of unvaccinated mum she never met

These heart-breaking pictures show a newborn baby being carried behind her mum's coffin after she died from Covid shortly after giving birth.

Samantha Willis, 35, passed away in hospital last week after a 16-day battle with the virus.

Her funeral was held in Londonderry, Northern Ireland on Monday, where mourners gathered to pay their respects.

Among the crowd was a woman holding Samantha's baby daughter Eviegrace, who was born while the mum was ill in hospital.

Husband Josh Willis penned an emotional tribute to his wife on Facebook last week, in which he explained about the birth.

And he also urged people to get the vaccine in a post on Twitter on Sunday - as he revealed Samantha had not been jabbed.

Got a story? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk.

He wrote: "I spent hours in ICU on Thursday and Friday with my wife who passed away.

"It's real, the numbers are real. Get your vaccine so you or your family don’t have to go through what I have had to.

"As I write this I am laying beside her. She is 35, unvaccinated and in a coffin. Let that sink in!"

His post on Facebook, penned on Friday, said: "I never thought I would be writing something like this for years to come, if ever.

"Today has been the worst day of my life. I have lost the love of my life Samantha to Covid-19.

"Samantha had put up a strong fight for the last 16 days but in the end just wasn’t enough.

"She did her best to come home to her family and beautiful children and shortly after 12 o’clock in the early hours of this morning passed away peacefully in ICU in Altnagelvin Hospital.

"Myself, her mother and two eldest children were by her side. She was in no pain and was comfortable when she slipped away.

"Whilst in hospital she also had to deliver our newest addition to the family who she has never met properly or held in her arms.

"I will make sure that Eviegrace will know all about the mother she will never meet.

"I will never let anyone forget you and I will remember all the special times and experiences we shared together.

"The children including Holly and Shéa are now my main priority.

Sign up for our daily coronavirus briefing newsletter to keep up to date with all the essential information and changes at www.mirror.co.uk/email .

"All I want to do now is make Samantha proud. I’m sure she’s already looking down and proud of how we are coping.

"We are also proud of her, she was a wonderful, loving and caring person and she has been our super hero the last few weeks.

"She is now our guardian angel and she will remain in our hearts and thoughts for ever more.

"We love you loads and miss you. We wish we could only have helped you get home to live the rest of your life with us.

"I will never stop loving you and we will do our best to make you proud until we see you again. Sleep tight my Queen. Love you."

Josh added that he wanted to thank the "wonderful" hospital staff who treated his wife, stating he would "never forget" their efforts.

Relatives have set up a fundraiser to help the dad and kids following Samantha's death.

You can donate here.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.