'THIS THING THAT KILLED MY FATHER DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE – IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE' AS TOWN SEND HUNDREDS OF TOUCHING TRIBUTES TO 'LOVING, KIND, GENTLE' GRANDAD-OF-FIVE'

A DEVASTATED Atherstone family has spoken of the way coronavirus "ripped the heart" out of their full-of-life father in 10 agonising days.

Retired 3M machine operator Roy Allitt died in the George Eliot hospital, Nuneaton, yesterday lunchtime just weeks after enjoying a Caribbean cruise with his wife of 40 years, Claire.

His death – as the UK toll rises to almost 8,000 – has brought a wave of emotional outpouring of sympathy with more than 500 touching tributes on social media forums.

Hours after his father's untimely death at 64, heartbroken son Peter Allitt made an impassioned plea through Nub News to everyone in Atherstone and beyond to heed all the 'stay home' advice from the Government "not just for Easter but until further notice".

"This thing that killed my father does not discriminate – it can happen to anyone," he said.

The virus has robbed Mr Allitt's two children, Peter and Emma, of a "loving, kind and gentle natured" father and five youngsters – Charlie, 11, Evie-Mae, 10, Poppy, nine, and four-year-olds Martha and Isabella – of a devoted grandfather.

Eldest son Peter also explained that his father had been looking forward to helping him celebrate his 40th birthday in two weeks' time – even though the planned party at the Red Lion Hotel had been put on hold because of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Peter, a maintenance engineer at Atherstone's Greencore Food to Go, said his father – well known in the town as a weekend wedding photographer – first developed a cough last week.

"He passed it off as nothing, telling us all he was fine," said Peter.

"We were all concerned about it but he still insisted on going out to get the morning paper."

The persistent cough progressed to symptoms of high fever, shivers and diarrhea. Medical advice was sought through the local surgery and NHS 111.

On day eight of struggling with the virus symptoms, he took a turn for the worse, said Peter.

And on Wednesday the paramedics were called as "he couldn't stand up".

Peter said as his father was wheeled down the drive of his Atherstone home on a stretcher he was able to say a few words, which turned out to be the last time he spoke to him.

"At least I was able to say a kind of goodbye," added Peter. "I told him to hurry up and get better."

Mr Allitt died around lunchtime on Thursday in hospital.

Despite the obvious grief, Peter has told Nub News how difficult it is to know whether getting his father into hospital a day earlier would have led to a better outcome, adding: "Could he have been saved, or would it have just prolonged the agony for him as this was his time to go?"

There are many things we don't know about coronavirus as it strikes the young and healthy as well as the old and vulnerable, starving victims of oxygen.

"It's been described to me in terms of an articulated lorry where the virus unhitches the cab from the trailer – leaving the tractor cab running around with no oxygen and struggling to breathe."

Daughter-in-law Kristy Allitt, a mother of two, posted on social media: "You were an amazing man and a great father to us both.

"The girls adored you. You will be greatly missed."

Former 3M colleague Jenny Faiz said: "He was a lovely man who I had the privilege to work with for many, many years."

Richard Stevens added: "He was a great man", while Sean Glenn posted: "A true gentleman."

Tracey Simpson Douglas: "Roy was a lovely gentleman and will be missed by his beautiful family who loved him so very much."

Maureen Hewitt: "He will be missed by all who knew him working at 3M and his wonderful photography."

Mr Allitt's hobby of photography saw him freelance work for the old Nuneaton Evening Tribune and his wedding pictures regularly appeared under the by-line 'Roy of Atherstone'