The British victims of coronavirus and their personal stories

Hundreds of people are losing their lives to coronavirus each and every day.

Aged five to 108, from a retired policeman to a shoe designer, an eccentric aristocrat to a vicar, their names are released, their stories all-too-briefly told, by the heartbroken relatives left behind.

As Covid-19 continues its grim march, the Telegraph seeks here to pay tribute to as many victims as possible. Click here to read about the brave NHS workers who have died treating the sick.

Would you like to share a story about a friend or relative you have lost? Whether it's to pay tribute or share a funny story about their lives, the Telegraph wants to hear from you. We will be featuring stories of lost loved ones sent to us by readers to remember the many people who have sadly lost their lives to the virus.

Send an email with any pictures you would like to include to yourstory@telegraph.co.uk

Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab, 13

The schoolboy from Brixton was treated at King’s College Hospital where he died on 30 March.

His family said that he started showing symptoms and had trouble breathing but to their knowledge he had no underlying health conditions.

After being tested positive for the disease he was put on a ventilator and into an induced coma before passing away.

Darrell Blakeley, 88

The 88-year-old church choir singer died on 13 March after treatment at North Manchester General Hospital.

Understood to be suffering with an underlying health condition for several weeks, he fell ill after coming into contact with someone returning from Italy and was admitted to hospital with sepsis on 3 March.

Paying tribute, a spokesperson for St Michael's Church said: "Darrell was a faithful man at St Michael's for over 50 years, he sang in the choir with a beautiful voice and was described by so many as a gracious gentleman who is going to be sadly missed."

Danny Cairns, 68

The 68-year-old decided to self-isolate at his home in Greenock, by the Firth of Clyde, after developing a cough and a sore throat.

However, he was taken to hospital after his condition deteriorated. He died there on March 26.

Before passing away, he told his brother Hugh, who lives in the United States, that he was "on my way out" on a video call.

Hugh described the ordeal as a "nightmare" for the family, saying of Danny: "He wasn't just my brother, he was my best friend".

He said: "From the time of going into hospital within three days he was dead." "His last words to me were, I'm on my way out mate."

Romeo Castillo Jr, 34

Travel agent Romeo Castillo Jr, known to many as Romy, died after contracting Covid-19 on a work trip to Mauritius, which he had won as a reward for his good work.

The 34-year-old, who lived in Pimlico, was treated at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for four days before he sadly died on Thursday, March 26.

His family described him as a "generous and thoughtful friend to all those who had the privilege of knowing him".

Mr Castillo's brother, Clive, set up an online fundraiser following his death to help raise money to pay for his funeral. So far, the page has raised more than £5,500.

Hilda Churchill, 108

The great great grandmother who survived the Spanish flu pandemic died at Kenyon Lodge care home in Salford after contracting coronavirus.

The former seamstress passed away on Saturday March 28- four days after showing mild symptoms of covid-19 and a day after testing positive.

Will Hadcraft, 50, her grandson who works as a funeral celebrant and writer, said she was due to celebrate her 109th birthday on Sunday.

He said his grandmother, who had four children, 11 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren, would be "greatly missed".

Ms Churchill's one-year-old sister died as a result of The Spanish Flu of 1918, which killed 50 million people.

Emma Clarke, 35

A "much loved and gifted" science teacher, Ms Clarke died on April 9 at .

In a letter to parents at Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy in Runcorn, Cheshire, principal Tony Rawdin described Ms Clarke as "one of those people who everyone liked."

He said: "She was a brilliant science teacher and very popular with her pupils, not least her Year 11 tutor group, and her colleagues.

Ms Clark previously worked as a research chemist.

Luca Di Nicola, 19

Luca, an assistant chef from Italy, died in London after testing positive for COVID-19. The NHS said he did not have underlying health conditions.

He was taken by ambulance to the North Middlesex Hospital in Enfield, north London, but died 30 minutes later, from apparent fulminant pneumonia.

Mr Di Nicola's brother, Davide, has paid tribute to his sibling on his Instagram, saying "I love you brother. We both grew and matured and you, surely more mature than me, had the courage and the desire to bring new goals.”

Marita Edwards, 80

Ms Edwards was the first victim of coronavirus who is thought to have died after contracting it in hospital.

The retired cleaner and keen golfer was admitted to Royal Gwent hospital in Newport for a routine gallbladder operation on 28 February.

Almost three weeks later she tested positive for Covid-19, and died on 20 March after her family were initially told she had pneumonia.

Kimberley Finlayson , 52

The mother of four from Shenley, Hertfordshire died in Bali, Indonesia on 11 March, the first person to die in the region.

The founder of a dental communications business was understood to have diabetes and lung disease, and had two emergency operations in a government hospital after falling ill while on holiday.

Her husband told the BBC: ‘Myself and my four children are absolutely devastated to lose the most beautiful wife and mother. She’s so generous, she’s so full of life, she’s so powerful, courageous, supportive of all of us. I’ve lost half of myself.

Thomas Fox, 92

Thomas Fox was a great-great-grandfather who lost his life to coronavirus on Monday 6th April.

At 92, the former miner was well-known as a “big character” in Salford, Manchester, and would always dress smartly in a suit for an evening at his local pub, where he loved to sing.

Mr Fox died in Salford Royal Hospital in the early hours of Monday morning, just one week after being diagnosed with coronavirus, and only a few members of his family will be able to say goodbye at his funeral.

Known as Tommy to his friends and family, Mr Fox was a sociable pillar of his community in Pendleton raising a big family - including eight sons, tens of grandchildren and even a few great-great-grandchildren.

One of Mr Fox's sons was able to visit him and call the rest of the family, so they could say goodbye.

His son David said: "My dad told us that he loved us all, that was enough."

Leonard Gibson, 78

The grandfather from Oughtibridge near Sheffield died at the Northern General Hospital on 17 March.

The 78-year old had been suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and had recently finished a course of antibiotics.

His daughters said: “Even though they were probably very busy, every member of staff took time to talk to us in detail but more importantly they made sure dad knew each time that we had phoned and that we had said we loved him.”

Doreen Hunt, 72

The great grandmother died on Mother's Day at Luton and Dunstable Hospital after contracting coronavirus.

Mrs Hunt, who had underlying health conditions, had been self-isolating before showing symptoms of covid-19 on March 17.

Within 24 hours she was placed in intensive care but later died.

Mrs Hunt was married to John Hunt, a former South Beds District Councillor, and ran an insurance assessment business in Dunstable with him for many years.

She left behind her three children, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Her son Stephen Hunt, 51, from Kings Langley, said: "She was born into extreme poverty and had a tough upbringing."

"But she became a successful businesswoman and was a wonderful mother, grandmother and great grandmother."

"I would describe her as a contrary angel- we rarely agreed on anything but she gave me contrariness and showed me how to be independent of mind."

Lord Gordon of Strathblane, 83

The former broadcaster and Labour peer, died on 24 March after contracting the virus.

In a statement, relatives paid tribute to "a much-loved brother and uncle" who took "great pleasure in spending time with his extended family.”

It said: "Family was very important to Jimmy - of all the roles he had in his life, the one that brought him most pleasure was being 'Papa' to his four grandchildren, with whom he was frankly besotted.”

Adam Harkins Sullivan, 28

Moments before Adam Harkins Sullivan passed away from coronavirus in London’s University College Hospital, his mother told him “you have to fight”.

The 28-year-old from Camden, north London, was a painter and decorator with no underlying health conditions when he contracted coronavirus. He was admitted to hospital with viral pneumonia a week before he died and was put in an induced coma as he could not breathe on his own.

His mother, Jackki Harkins, urged young people to take the threat of infection seriously as her son’s death shows it's not just a disease that threatens the lives of the elderly.

“I’ve lost something very precious to me that can never be replaced,” she told the Camden New Journal. “We are all just in shock because he was only a young man.

“People have got to start taking this seriously. A lot of people think it’s an old person’s disease – but look what has happened to Adam.”

Mr Harkins Sullivan leaves behind a six-year-old son, Harry, and his four siblings.

Edwin Hillier, 84

The 84-year-old became the first British prisoner to die after contracting coronavirus.

Hillier, a convicted paedophile, was serving time at HMP Littlehey, a category C male sex offenders prison in Cambridgeshire.

The former school caretaker, from Hemel Hempstead, reportedly had health issues and died in hospital on March 22.

A HM Prison Service spokesperson said: "Our thoughts are with his family at this time."

Andrew Jack, 74

Star Wars actor Andrew Jack died from coronavirus aged 74, as colleagues described him as a "wonderful, talented, beloved gentleman".

Mr Jack, who also worked as a dialect coach, was “still working full-pelt” in the lead up to his death, his agent said, and was currently coaching on the new Batman film.

He had been unable to see his wife, fellow dialect coach Gabrielle Rogers, who he was "madly in love with", because she was stuck in quarantine in Australia, having just flown in from New Zealand last week.

Fellow Star Wars actor Greg Grunberg said he was "devastated" to learn of Jack's death, adding: "He is one of the kindest people I've ever worked with.

Mr Jack, who lived on a houseboat on the River Thames, had been "full of life", "funny, charming and a joy to be around," his agent said.

Wendy Jacobs, 58

The headteacher of Roose Primary School in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, died on 22 March after being admitted into intensive care.

Ms Jacobs was being treated at Furness General Hospital, where she is understood to have been treated for pneumonia, though it is not known if she had any underlying health conditions.

In a statement, Ms Jacobs' family said: "She was an incredible woman and her last act as headmistress was to ensure the school she cared so much about was closed the day after she started showing symptoms and only reopened once she was sure it was safe and her staff and pupils were protected."

Eddie Large, 78

Eddie Large, best known as one half of comedy duo Little and Large, died on 24 March after contracting coronavirus in hospital.

The 78-year-old, who enjoyed fame alongside Syd Little in the 1970s and 1980s, was simply not strong enough to fight it off, his son said.

He died alone at Southmead Hospital in the early hours of the morning, his family having been unable to visit him in his final days.

Maria Lawrence, 48

Ms Lawrence, from Derby, died after a week in hospital on March 20. As well as Covid-19, she had vasculitis, an underlying health condition that she was unaware of.

The mother-of-two ran a small business from home where she made and sold gift bags, in her spare time running a Secret Santa and provided Christmas gifts for hundreds of people in the local area.

She left behind two sons Dan and Benn Clark, 21 and 19, who described her as “the kindest person you could ever meet.”

Seb Lewis, 38

Charlton football club paid tribute to “super-fan” Seb Lewis after he passed away from coronavirus on Wednesday 25th March.

Mr Lewis, 38, attended an impressive 1,076 games in a row before the virus halted this season. He supported the team for 27 years and did not miss a game home or away since 1998.

Charlton defender Chris Solly described him as "the most dedicated and loyal football fan I’ve ever known”, adding: “You’ll be truly missed by us all."

George Mason, 71

The popular barber was put on a ventilator but died on March 25 after contracting coronavirus.

Mr Mason and his twin brother Malcolm had been cutting hair together in the Mason's Barber shop in Gosport, Hampshire since they were teenagers.

He leaves behind his wife, Bobbie, his children Joanna and Natalie, and grandchildren Hannah and Ben.

In a statement, the shop said he "always brought laughter and happiness and it will be so hard not working alongside him any more."

Malcolm told Solent News: "George was good fun- we had our moments like all brothers do, but got along brilliantly. He was a real family man and cared deeply about those around him."

Nick Matthews, 59

The retired police officer from Nailsea in Somerset, died on March 14 after being admitted to the intensive care unit at Bristol Royal Infirmary.

His widow, Mary Matthews, said he had previously suffered a heart attack, after which he retired from his job as a police officer.

In a post on Facebook, she wrote: "Today at 3am I lost my life partner and soulmate but most of all my best friend.

Chloe Middleton, 21

Ms Middleton, from High Wycombe was taken to Wexham Park Hospital in Slough, where she died on  March 19.

The coroner’s service said Ms Middleton’s death certificate confirmed her death was from Covid-19.

Her aunt, Emily Mistry, said that her niece "had no underlying health conditions".

Hassan Milani

Councillor Ali Milani, the Labour parliamentary candidate who opposed Boris Johnson in Uxbridge and South Ruislip in the 2019 general election, said his father died after being diagnosed with coronavirus.

He tweeted on March 21: "In the early hours of this morning, my father tragically passed away having contracted covid-19."

"Please keep him in your prayers. This virus is taking millions across the world. Please isolate and listen to medical advice," he added.

Nadir Nur, 48

Mr Nur was a London bus driver, was described by his family as a "dedicated, hardworking" father who took his duty as an essential worker seriously.

But his widow said he was not protected.

"Nadir and his colleagues had no PPE whatsoever," she said.

“They worked in the frontline without any protection from this aggressive deadly virus. PPE should be made available for bus drivers who are putting their life at risk daily in order to put food on the table and pay bills.

“Bus drivers are doing their part for the country, we should be protecting them.”

Emeka Nyack-Ihenacho, 36

Mr Nyack-Ihenacho, a London bus driver who drove the No 4 bus from Blackfriars to Archway died on April 4.

His family called for workers to be given protective equipment so they can “do their jobs and go home to their families safely”.

Tamara Carrick, the mother of his son Makiah, said he had continued doing the job he loved "even though he was at risk with nothing in place for his safety”.

“There will be no more ‘bring your dad to school’. No dad to take him to his first football game," she wrote online.

"No more mum and dad at his Christmas play. There will be no mum and dad cheering him on at the finish line.

But I tell you what, I will be stood there cheering him on extra loud. So please, please think about going out and potentially doing this to another child. Who knows, it could be yours, your loved ones, anyone. Even just a friend.”

Allan Oldcorn, 74

Allan Oldcorn died from coronavirus two days after celebrating his 74th birthday.

The pensioner from Flookburgh began to experience symptoms when he felt short of breath and was struggling with backache. But despite his discomfort, his daughters said he was “having a laugh and a joke” with nurses in the hospital just an hour before his condition swiftly deteriorated.

He passed away 24 hours after he was admitted to hospital.

Mr Oldcorn was husband to Jen, father to Janet, Christine and Wendy, and a grandfather.

“He was an amazing husband, dad, grandad and great grandad - the anchor of our family,” Wendy said.

“He worked as a lorry driver for Bowater Scott and when working the nightshift he would leave three sweeties for his three girls on the mantelpiece.

"He generally loved life and that has been cut short because of this terrible disease. We will never forget his laugh, smile and hugs.”

Harold Pearsall, 97

The D-Day Veteran from Tamworth, Staffordshire, died aged 97 on March 20 after contracting coronavirus.

Mr Pearsall was awarded France's highest military honour, the Legion d'honneur, for his role in the allied assault on Caen in 1944.

At an event to mark the 75th anniversary of the landings last year, he said: "We never fired a round. When that first shell came in, I could have crawled down a wormhole."

Peter Lloyd, the secretary of the 1944 Alliance Normandy-Market Garden veterans' association, said his friend tested positive for coronavirus while at hospital in Birmingham.

He said: "It is with great sadness that I have to announce the passing of our dear friend and brother veteran Chevalier Harold Pearsall la Légion d'Honneur. Our prayers and thoughts are with Harold's family and friends."

Mr Pearsall, a widower with two sons, was said to be a "very active" member of the Birmingham association and went on frequent trips to Normandy and the Netherlands.

Bovil Peter

Bovil Peter was an officer at north London’s Pentonville prison who died after suffering Covid-19 symptoms.

Mr Peter, who is believed to have been in his 60s, was described as “an experienced member of staff” who was working at operational support grade at the prison by the chairman of the Prison Officers’ Association.

Mark Fairhurst said: “I just want to highlight the fact that this [Covid-19] puts us all at risk.

“We are on the front line doing a commendable job on behalf of society and he will be sadly missed by all his colleagues. We wish the best for his family and friends.”

Craig Rushton, 45

The father-of-two, from Kettering, died on 16 March, six days after becoming ill with a chest infection that was later confirmed to be covid-19.

He was at the time the youngest person in the UK to die of coronavirus, and was also fighting motor neurone disease since 2018.

Sally, the wife of the 45-year-old footwear designer, said that his "fight with MND was not ready to be over", despite doctors giving him two years to live. "Craig was not ready to go," she said.

Frank Rust, 81

The former deputy mayor of Rushmoor council in Surrey died on March 30 after testing positive for coronavirus.

Mr Rust, a Labour councillor for North Town from Aldershot, passed away in Frimley Park Hospital.

He was due to take up a second term as Mayor of Rushmoor Borough Council in May- a position he had occupied in 2003.

Shabnum Sadiq, 39

Ms Sadiq, a mother of five, including quadruplets, died after contracting coronavirus during a visit to Pakistan.

She contracted the disease five days after arriving in the country for a wedding in early March and died on April 6.

The Labour councillor, who served on Slough Borough Council, died from "complications" associated with coronavirus.

Council leader James Swindlehurst called her death "very shocking" and a "significant loss for the council and the town".

Ms Sadiq was elected to Wexham Lea ward in May 2016. She is survived by her husband and her five children.

Caroline Saunby , 48

The mother of two from New Marske in North Yorkshire died on March 29, leaving behind six-year-old twin sons.

Ms Saunby’s twin, Sarah Jarvis, said that her sister suspected that she had tonsillitis.

When she collapsed at home she was given CPR and taken to hospital, but died the same day.

Danny Sharma, 38

Danny Sharma, from Hillingdon, died in the early hours of Thursday, March 26 from coronavirus.

The 38-year-old, who is believed to have had underlying health conditions, was a huge Liverpool football fan and would regularly travel to see his team play at Anfield.

Before he passed away, he shared regular updates on social media from his hospital bed on his condition as he wanted to make it clear to others that they should take the threat of the coronavirus seriously, his brother said.

In his final Facebook post two days before he died, Danny wrote: "Looks nice out from the window wish I was participating in the Vitamin D. Finding hard to breath still fighting."

Vinny Sharma said his brother was a “fantastic guy with a big heart”.

“Hopefully he will find some peace," he told the Liverpool Echo.

Sudhir Sharma, 61 and Pooja Sharma, 33

Mr Sharma, who worked at Heathrow airport died from Covid-19 on 25 March, followed one day later by his daughter Poonja, who was a pharmacist at Eastbourne District General Hospital in East Sussex.

It is understood that Mr Sharma, from West Hounslow, had underlying health conditions. A source at the airport told the Sun: “It’s an absolute tragedy. He was a lovely, lovely man. Every immigration officer is talking about it.”

A friend of Ms Sharma, who died after receiving medical care for three days before her death, posted online: "May their souls rest in peace. Sending my heartiest condolences, prayers and love to their family."

William Stern, 85

The Hungarian-born holocaust survivor was reported to have died by his local Jewish community.

Mr Stern was a prisoner in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp during the second world war before settling in London and going on to build a successful property empire.

After ranking over the Freshwater group he launched the Stern Property Group, but in the 1974 crash, the group collapsed, and four years later Mr Stern was bankrupted with debts of £118m.

Linda Tuppen, 66

The former nursery nurse and teacher died at her home in Bolton on March 28, five days after she began to feel unwel1.

Deciding to sleep instead of calling the NHS helpline, Ms Tuppen, who had asthma, was found by her son, Rob, who could not wake her.

Her son, who had been nursed back to health by his mother, developed symptoms after returning from Krakow in Poland, and told the Manchester Evening News: “I was doing chest compressions until the ambulance came. I was still in the room when he came over and said she was gone. It’s devastating, we lost our father in 2008, so we’re pretty much on our own now.”

Alexander George Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath, 87

The flamboyant owner of Wiltshire’s Longleat estate, died on April 4 after being admitted to the Royal United Hospital in Bath with Covid-19.

The eccentric aristocrat, known for his colourful sense of style and bohemian lifestyle, was famed for having more than 70 mistresses, whom he called “wifelets”.

He was a regular fixture on the Animal Park television show about his estate that ran from 2000-09.

Longleat Safari Park said in a statement: "The family would like to express their great appreciation for the dedicated team of nurses, doctors and other staff who cared so professionally and compassionately for Alexander in these extremely difficult times for everyone."

Christopher Vallely, 79 and Isobel Vallely, 77

Christopher Vallely died on Sunday March 29 in the Mater hospital in Belfast, twelve hours after his wife, Isobel, 77, passed away in the same hospital room.

The couple, who lived in west Belfast and had three children together, had just marked their 53rd wedding anniversary on the Friday.

Mr Vallely, who was recently diagnosed with lung cancer, was admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast on March 20 and put in isolation for ten days after displaying symtpoms of covid-19.

He was then transferred to the Mater hospital for specialist treatment.

Mrs Vallely, who suffered a stroke last year, was admitted on Thursday March 26, and died on Saturday night.

Her husband was moved to the room she had stayed in after his condition worsened. Both had tested positive for Covid-19.

Fiona Vallely, their daughter, told The Irish News said: “Both had underlying heath issues, but it’s a shock to lose both your parents. They would have done anything for anybody. They were fantastic people and they did not deserve to go this way.”