NURSE DIED DAYS AFTER CATCHING COVID-19
FAMILY PLEA AFTER EX-NURSE DIED WITHIN DAYS
A FORMER nurse who devoted decades to the NHS collapsed and died days after developing Covid-19, writes Adrian Troughton.
Kevan Riches, 62, pictured, a paediatric theatre nurse at Leicester Royal Infirmary until his retirement in May, became ill on New Year’s Eve.
He died at his home in Dane Hills, Leicester, six days later as he was setting out for the hospital after his wife Angela, 50, an intensive care nurse at Glenfield Hospital, persuaded him he needed treatment.
His mother, Heather, had died 10 days earlier, aged 87, after she had also contracted Covid-19.
Kevan’s son Daniel, 23, said: “This thing kills and it can kill quickly. Everyone must take the jab when it is offered.
“It is the chance to stop something like this happening. It is the chance to have your loved ones around as long as possible.
“The chance to be able to enjoy those precious little moments together. To enjoy a little hug, to say ‘I love you.’
“Once they have gone that chance is gone forever. We have lost our dad and our grandmother in a very short space of time. It is so cruel.”
A RESPECTED nurse who spent his working life serving the NHS died days after contracting Covid-19.
Former paediatric theatre nurse Kevan Riches, who worked in the NHS for over 40 years, collapsed as he set off for Leicester Royal Infirmary, where he had been based prior to his retirement in May.
The 62-year-old father-of-three’s wife Angela, an intensive care nurse at Glenfield Hospital, tried to save him by performing CPR until paramedics arrived, but to no avail.
Kevan developed symptoms on New Year’s Eve and was dead six days later – 10 days after his beloved mother Heather, who died at the age of 87 after she had also contracted Covid-19.
Kevan’s son Daniel, 23, appealed to people to take the vaccination when it is offered to them.
“This thing kills and it can kill quickly,” he said.
“Everyone must take the jab when it is offered.
“It is the chance to stop something like this happening. It is the chance to have your loved ones around as long as possible.
“The chance to be able to enjoy those precious little moments together. To enjoy a little hug, to say ‘I love you.’
“Once they have gone that chance is gone forever. We have lost our dad and our grandmother in a very short space of time. It is so cruel.”
Daniel said his father, who lived in Dane Hills, Leicester, was fit and well at Christmas.
“They came up to Manchester to see me on Christmas Day,” he said.
“Dad was fine. They stayed for the day then left.
“Then Heather, his mother, died on December 27 after being transferred to hospital following a fall at her home, where she was then also confirmed to have Covid-19.
“Dad, who was everyone’s emotional rock, was devastated. We all were.”
Daniel said his father started showing flu-like symptoms on Friday, January 1.
“He was obviously not well and we suspected Covid-19,” Daniel said. “The last time I spoke to dad was on January 4.
“Mum had already been vaccinated due to her job and was involved in routine twice-weekly Covid-19 testing, but unfortunately she tested positive on the same day.
“We had a Facebook Messenger video chat and he told us not to worry and that he would probably shake it off and be fine.
“That was typical of him not to want to cause a fuss and to put himself above others.
“I said if he got much worse we would have to think about him going into hospital.”
Daniel said his mother managed to persuade Kevan to go to hospital on January 6 after his breathing became very laboured.
“He came downstairs but turned towards the kitchen, not the front door. My mum asked him what he was doing. He said he was just getting a drink. As he walked from the kitchen towards the front door he collapsed. Mum started CPR until the paramedics arrived but it was no good.
“Dad was pronounced dead there in his own home. Mum is devastated.
“Our family will never be the same again.”
Daniel has set up a gofundme site to raise money for the charity Heart Link, as a tribute to his father.
“We are trying to give something back. It would be something positive out of this terrible tragedy,” he said.
“It would be incredibly fitting as dad would be still caring for people, even though he has gone.”