Hero carer Angela, 55, dies of bug
A carer who died of coronavirus has been described as a “true hero” of her community.
Angela Isdale lost her battle with the virus after being transferred more than 200 miles from her home in Girvan to Aberdeen for emergency treatment.
The 55-year-old mum, who was also a youth worker and dedicated volunteer, is expected to be laid to rest on Thursday after thousands of pounds was raised to help pay for her funeral and create a lasting memorial to her.
Angela’s employer Rainbow Services said they had lost “a friend, colleague and true hero”, while the community group she chaired urged the public to follow restrictions to protect key workers.
The popular carer’s death emerged as Ayrshire hospitals recorded an incredible increase of coronavirus patients over the weekend, with the region shooting past 12000 cases.
A statement from Glendoune Community Association said Angela, “friend, mother, sister, daughter and girlfriend”, died on January 10 after being taken to hospital on December 27.
It said: “Please protect our home carers. Stay home. Please Covid is real. Do not think it doesn’t exist. It does.”
A Go Fund Me page set up in recent days by family and friends has so far raised more than £2,600.
It said: “Angela sadly passed away due to contracting Covid-19. Angela due to the specialized treatment she required passed away in Aberdeen, so this will add additional expenditure.
“Angela started her funeral plan a few years ago but due to passing away at the young age of 55 she still had many years of payments left.
“Angela was a home career, youth worker and a volunteer in the Girvan community and due to this was well known.
“We have set up this page to allow anyone who wishes to contribute to allow Angela the funeral that she had planned and deserves due to her dedication to her local community through her employment and voluntary work.”
Organisers said they had met the cost of Angela’s funeral thanks to big-hearted donors and any remaining funds would be used to create a memorial bench in the town.
Scores of tributes have been paid to the popular carer in recent days.
Angela’s close friend Jacqueline, who set up the fundraiser, said in a touching Facebook post: “We met when we were 12 years old and people thought we were sisters. In our family you were daughter no5 . Rip Angela Isdale I will always miss you.”
Music on the Prom Girvan paid tribute to Angela with an online video, including clips of her dancing, saying: “She was much loved by all who knew her. Forever in oor hearts. Gone but never forgotten.”
A record-breaking high of 217 patients were fighting Covid-19 in NHS Ayrshire & Arran hospitals on Sunday.
The spike in numbers was the biggest single-day increase of hospital patients since the pandemic began.
The number has almost doubled in the space of a month.