Chichester couple who both died after contracting Covid-19 only left the house 'to do the food shopping'

"Please stay safe. This has ripped through our family like a tornado and you don’t appreciate it until it’s on your doorstep."
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Those were the words of a Chichester family, who lost both parents to Covid-19 in just over a month.

Philip Ellis, 65, and his wife of 40 years, Loraine, 59, from Donnington, both lost their lives at St Richard's Hospital after contracting the virus this year.

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Speaking on behalf of the family, daughter-in-law Charis Ellis said the 'fit and well' couple, who had five children and 14 grandchildren, were 'well known by a lot of people in the area'.

Philip and Loraine had five children and 14 grandchildrenPhilip and Loraine had five children and 14 grandchildren
Philip and Loraine had five children and 14 grandchildren

Charis said: "My mother-in-law felt ill just before the new year. She had belly pains. She ended up going into the hospital [on January 2] and found out she had Covid."

Loraine was soon put on oxygen on the intensive care unit at St Richard's Hospital.

Before the family were able to come to terms with this, Philip also 'started struggling' after testing positive for the virus.

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He was taken to hospital on January 8 and sadly died just a day later.

The couple, who had been married for 40 years, both lost their lives at St Richard's Hospital after contracting the virus this yearThe couple, who had been married for 40 years, both lost their lives at St Richard's Hospital after contracting the virus this year
The couple, who had been married for 40 years, both lost their lives at St Richard's Hospital after contracting the virus this year

A week later, Loraine was put into an induced coma which she didn't wake up from, losing her life on February 15.

"It just shows it can rip your family apart in minutes," Charis said. "They didn't go anywhere.

"They just went out to do the food shopping. It's not like they went anywhere far.

"A lot of people have lost a big part of their family."

The family have set up a tribute page, where donations can be made to support the Love Your Hospital charityThe family have set up a tribute page, where donations can be made to support the Love Your Hospital charity
The family have set up a tribute page, where donations can be made to support the Love Your Hospital charity
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Paying tribute, the family said they were 'absolutely devastated and heartbroken', adding: "Our parents are the heart of our family.

"We’re a very close family. They were always the life and soul and remembered by anybody who crossed paths with them.

"There is a huge hole in our hearts and our lives. They are survived by their five children their partners, and their 14 grandchildren who will all miss them dearly.

"We would also like to show all our appreciation to all the staff at St Richard's Hospital, especially all the staff in the ICU who done a fantastic job looking after our mum during her long stay and our dad during his short stay with them."

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Charis added that the hospital staff were 'really supportive of the family' and 'tried everything they could'.

She added: "They are just under so much pressure and can't save everyone."

The family have set up a tribute page, where donations can be made to support the Love Your Hospital charity.

If you would like to make a donation, please visit the page here.

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