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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Lisa Rand & Sophie Halle-Richards

Young mum-of-three who 'lived for her family' dies of Covid while waiting for her second jab

A young mum-of-three died after contracting coronavirus while waiting for her second vaccine.

Katie Gill, 31, who was said to 'live for her family' was taken to hospital in Liverpool in early August after complaining of breathing difficulties.

She had previously tested positive for the virus and had been managing her symptoms at home.

Read more: Murder investigation following death of young woman

Tragically, after two-weeks, the mum from Moreton, the Wirral, died in hospital on August 14, the Liverpool Echo reports.

She leaves behind her husband and three children.

Katie's best friend Karen Rotheram said she wanted to convey Katie's family's warning to others that the pandemic "hasn't gone away."

"Katie was the loveliest, kindest, funniest person, who would do anything for anyone," Karen said.

"She went into hospital at the start of August and had been struggling with covid at home before that.

Katie Gill with her sister Charley and mum Brenda (UGC)

"It was her breathing, the usual, so she had to go to hospital and she deteriorated from there.

"It was really quick, within just 10 days.

"Katie was one of those people when there's been lockdowns who was totally careful, would do everything she could to keep her family healthy .

"Because of her age, because she was just 31, that's why it was so much more of a shock.

"She'd had a jab and was keeping safe."

Karen said Katie's family and friends want people to realise the danger of coronavirus is still present, although restrictions have now ended.

She said: "I think that's what people don't understand.

"Okay, we're out of lockdown and we're getting back to the new normal but covid's still there.

"It doesn't have an age, some people recover some people don't but everyone should be aware.

"Although you can do a lot of things now, you still need to be aware and get your jabs.

"Katy was due to get her second one this month. She took her first jab to protect herself and her family."

Karen says Katie's family "don't want any other families to go through what they have."

She said: "The family just want to say that obviously they don't want other families to go through what they've had to go through the past two weeks - for everyone to keep safe to get your jabs done - that's so important."

A fundraiser for Katie's family has been set up, centring on the Birkenhead north end community in which Katie grew up, to help her family with funeral costs.

Karen says she finds it hard looking back through photographs of her and her best friend, who "told each other everything."

She said: "It breaks my heart when I'm looking back on family photos, it's just so very sad, I don't think it's sunk in yet.

"She was so creative and really into arts and crafts, her talent was amazing, but her hobby and her life was her family - she lived for her family.

To donate to the Katie's fund GoFundMe click here.

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