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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Emma Flanagan & Philip Dewey

Tributes paid to youngest person to die after contracting coronavirus in the UK

Tributes have been paid to a man who died after contracting coronavirus while on holiday in the Canary Islands.

Nick Matthews, 59, died in the early hours of Saturday morning in hospital shortly after returning from his holiday to the Spanish islands with his wife Mary.

Most of the 35 people who have died from Covid-19 in the UK have been in their 60s, 70s and 80s with underlying health conditions and Mr Matthews is believed to be the youngest victim of the virus.

There have been 34 more people diagnosed with coronavirus in Wales , Public Health Wales confirmed on Sunday, bringing the total number with Covid-19 to 94.

The father-of-two had recently tested positive after contracting the virus in Fuerteventura.

The former police officer was taken to hospital on Thursday night suffering from breathing difficulties and was diagnosed with pneumonia.

Mrs Matthews, of Nailsea, Somerset, had shared her husband's photo on Facebook to tell people who had come into contact with him to self-isolate.

She wrote a tribute to Mr Matthews on Facebook.

She said: "Today at 3am I lost my life partner and soul mate but most of all my best friend.

"Together with our children Charlotte and Ben we are beyond proud to have had such a big character in our lives.

"As a family we are currently in isolation… I know some of you would like to visit, but please for you and your family’s safety, stay away until we get the all clear."

NHS advice for people self-isolating due to the coronavirus

In a statement, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust said: "Sadly, we can confirm that a man who was being cared for at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, and had tested positive for Covid-19, has died.

"The patient who died was in his late-fifties and had underlying health conditions.

"The family has been informed and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time. We will not be commenting further and ask that everybody respects the family's privacy."

Speaking to the Nailsea People , his widow said: "People who may have come into contact with either Nick or me during the past two weeks need to self-isolate and get advice.

"Although he tested positive, until a post-mortem examination, we can't say that was cause of death at the moment.

"I don't want to panic people, but I do want people to take extra precautions."

So far there have been 1,372 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK, 94 of which have been from Wales.

There have been 35 deaths and 18 people have recovered from the virus.

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