DEVASTATED FAMILY WANTS ANSWERS
The family of a beloved great- grandad who died suddenly feel they have been failed by medics after he was sent home from hospital IN A TAXI while fighting Covid-19.
Gordon Craig was rushed back to hospital in an ambulance just 20 minutes after being sent home on his own.
The 77- year- old Elderslie man was still testing positive for coronavirus and was struggling to breathe when he
arrived at his daughter’s house in Edinburgh, causing his frantic family to call 999.
But despite being rushed to Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary, the damage to his organs was so severe that he never recovered.
His heartbroken family have opened their hearts on their tragic loss.
Gordon’s daughter Lainni Rounding, paid tribute to her “vivacious and extroverted” dad, days after he was laid to rest following his death on February 21.
She said: “We are all so shocked by what happened.
“Within 20 minutes of him being home from the Western General, he couldn’t breath and his lips were almost black.
“He was still positive for covid when they sent him home and when he arrived he could barely get out the taxi.
“He was still in his pyjamas and was in such a state I ended up calling an ambulance.
“We just have no idea why he was sent home while he was in that condition.”
Gordon had been living with Lainni while undergoing chemotherapy at Edinburgh Western General for blood cancer called Myeloma and a rare condition called Amyloidosis, which causes proteins in the body to attack the organs.
The well-known veteran, who served in the Navy for many years, was also fighting Asbestosis when he was diagnosed with covid.
His family claim that because of his ongoing health issues, he should never have been allowed to leave hospital.
Lainni, 37, added: “His diagnosis wasn’t great but we still thought we had time.
“He wasn’t doing well at all and we thought it was because of the chemotherapy, but it turned out he had covid. We just feel like they must have missed something as given his conditions, in particular the issues with his lungs due to the Asbestosis, he should never have left the hospital.
“When he was taken to the Royal Infirmary, there was too much damage to his liver and kidneys that he never recovered.
“We don’t know if that was caused by withdrawal as due to covid he came off of so many medications for all his conditions.
“We have so much respect for the NHS and we cannot fault the staff, especially at the Royal Infirmary, but there are so many questions we have about why my dad was ever allowed to leave hospital.”
Gordon’s tragic death left many people in the Renfrewshire community heartbroken, as he was well known for living a colourful and exciting life which spanned the globe.
Gordon lived in Elderslie for more than 40 years and was involved in many organisations throughout his life.
After retiring from the Navy and then Merchant Navy, he lived in Bowling, West Dunbartonshire for many years with his first wife Mary, before settling in Elderslie with his second wife Marjory.
He became a well-known figure throughout Renfrewshire, running a shop in Paisley’s George Street for more than a decade and even running his own milk business in the town.
He went on to become a loving grandfather to his 12 grandchildren and eventually 11 great-grandchildren.
Speaking about her dad’s life, Lainni said: “He always had so many stories to tell and he had been through so much.
“We always joked that he had nine lives.
“He loved having a laugh and a joke, even at his own expense.
“When he was diagnosed with Amyloidosis and Myeloma, he joked about how he was excited to make it into the medical history books.
“He was such a vivacious and fun-loving person who was really creative and hands on.
“He had been through his own struggles in his life and that is what drove him to want to help other people.”
In his later years, Gordon was involved with long- standing Paisley charity The Star Project and was a much-loved member of Paisley Men’s Shed, and even ran his own garden ornament business.
Staff and members of the Wallace Street organisation described Gordon as a “ray of sunshine”.
Heather Kay, coordinator at Paisley’s Star Project said: “Gordon was always smiling, always willing to do anything for anyone.
“I always knew when he was in the building as all the staff and volunteers would be with him, listening to stories of his incredible life.
“We are deeply saddened by his loss, he brought a lightness to everything he did that cannot be replaced.
“We feel humbled to have known him and benefited from his incredible generosity.”
NHS Lothian were approached for comment.
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