A 108-year-old woman, who survived the two World Wars and the outbreak of the Spanish flu, died within hours of testing positive for coronavirus, becoming the UK's oldest fatality due to the disease, a media report said.
Hilda Churchill had been self-isolating at the Kenyon Lodge care home in Salford, Greater Manchester, for more than a week, but began showing minor symptoms three or four days ago, said the London-based Metro newspaper in the report on Saturday.
Her family were hoping that she would pull through in time to celebrate her 109th birthday on April 5.
But she passed away on Saturday morning, less than 24 hours after she tested positive for the coronavirus.
Her grandson Anthony had been planning a special birthday surprise and said "the most devastating thing is that we were not able to be there with her in her time of need, when she's been with all of us through ours".
"It's heartbreaking for us. Her birthday was just weeks away and we were all so excited... I think we all need to be more careful. She was a fighter, and she was fine, just mild symptoms," the Metro newspaper quoted the grandson as saying.
Hilda was a mother of four, grandmother of 11 and great-grandmother of 14.
The UK has so far reported 17,312 confirmed coronavirus cases, with 1,019 deaths.
NDA to retain power with thrice the number of seats than INDIA bloc: Opinion Poll
The BJP-led NDA is expected to comfortably romp back to power for a third term with over 360 seats, while the INDIA bloc will lag with just one-third of this number, as per an opinion poll conducted by TV9 Bharatvarsh, Polstrat and People's Insights.
Manipur: Kuki body asks its members to abstain from voting in Lok Sabha polls
The Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills (KISH), the apex body of the Kuki-Zomi tribal community, on Tuesday directed its members to abstain from participating in the upcoming Lok Sabha election.
‘Amul babies’: Himanta Biswa Sarma takes potshot at Priyanka Gandhi
The Chief Minister said that watching the Gandhi family members will not bring any benefits to the people rather time can be made more useful by seeing rhinos in Kaziranga.
BJP will change the Constitution if they come to power again, says Priyanka Gandhi
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra claimed on Tuesday that the BJP has plans to change the Constitution if they are voted to power again this time.
Assam Rifles jawan injured as patrol ambushed in Tinsukia, ULFA-I claims responsibility
A senior Army officer said that three vehicles of Assam Rifles, moving from Changlang towards Margherita, were ambushed by unknown personnel near Namdhang at around 8.30 a.m.
BJP-led NDA to cross 390-mark in Lok Sabha polls, predicts India TV-CNX survey
Days ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, a leading pollster has forecast that the BJP-led NDA is likely to miss its much-touted goal of winning 400 seats by a whisker.
LS poll is to protect democracy, constitution: Priyanka Gandhi
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Tuesday said that the Lok Sabha elections are to protect democracy and the Indian constitution.
US lawmaker raises alarm over spike in attacks on Hinduism
An Indian-descent lawmaker has raised alarm over a “substantial increase” in attacks on Hinduism and Hindu places of worship in the US and expressed frustration at the failure of law enforcement agencies to find and book those responsible.