'Don't put me to sleep, I won't wake up': Haunting last words of Covid-stricken father, 40, to his fiancée over Facetime before he was put into coma and then died

A Covid-stricken father told his fiancee over Facetime 'don't put me to sleep, I won't wake up' before he was put into a coma and then died.

Leon Boase, 40, who had no underlying health conditions, was terrified he wouldn't wake up before he was sedated, his devastated partner Nichola Jennison said. 

The couple had been self-isolating after they both contracted the virus in early November. 

Mr Boase, who rarely drank and didn't smoke, showed no symptoms to begin with but ended up being rushed to James Cook Hospital, in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, with excruciating stomach pains on November 12.

Ms Jennison, 38, said: 'His last words to me were: 'Don't put me to sleep, I won't wake up.' I'll never forget that. It was so heartbreaking to hear but I told him to stop being silly and that he would be home soon.' 

As the UK records a record-high 55,892 coronavirus cases and 964 deaths, Ms Jennison spoke out to tell how rapidly he went from being healthy to seriously ill.

Within 24 hours he was placed on a ventilator and spent the next four weeks fighting for his life in intensive care while his helpless family looked on.

Leon Boase, 40, was terrified he wouldn't wake up before he was put into a coma at a hospital in North Yorkshire, his devastated partner Nichola Jennison said (both pictured above)

Mr Boase pictured with his family. Doctors gave him just a one per cent chance of surviving but said he would need a lung transplant, which wasn't available at the time

In that time, Mr Boase was diagnosed with pneumonia twice and his kidneys also began to fail.

Doctors gave him just a one per cent chance of surviving but said he would need a lung transplant, which wasn't available at the time.

Mr Boase, a forklift driver from Ormesby, Middlesbrough, died on December 13.

Heartbroken Ms Jennison spoke to her partner for the last time over FaceTime after one of the nurses called her.  

'I just can't get my head around what happened. He never smoked, he didn't drink, he didn't go out, he was always so cautious but now he's gone.'

Mr Boase was a devoted father to Leo, eight, and stepdad to Leighton, 16. He was also a loving son, grandson, brother, uncle, nephew and cousin. 

He worked at KP Food in Billingham, County Durham, and was a talented amateur footballer in his teenage years. 

Mr Boase's funeral, which was held on Tuesday in Ormesby, North Yorkshire, with Ms Jennison and his stepson Leighton seen walking at the front of the procession

Floral tributes to Mr Boase reading 'Leon', 'nephew' and 'brother', pictured. Ms Jennison described her fiancee as her 'first and last love' ahead of his funeral on Tuesday

Mr Boase pictured with his partner Ms Jennison. The father worked at KP Food in Billingham, County Durham, and was a talented amateur footballer in his teenage years

Ms Jennison described Mr Boase as her 'first and last love' ahead of his funeral on Tuesday.

Paying tribute, Ms Jennison said: 'Leon was the best dad and partner in the world, even when he was moody.

'All he did was work hard and provide for us. He didn't ask for anything or hurt anyone; he was just quiet, private and a doting family man.'

Ms Jennison told how the pair had been together for nine years but 'went out with each other' for a time when they were pupils at Ormesby School.

She said: 'We went our separate ways but found each other again. He was my first and last love.

Mr Boase pictured with his son Leo and stepson Layton . Paying tribute, Ms Jennison said: 'Leon was the best dad and partner in the world, even when he was moody'

Ms Jennison described Mr Boase, above, as her 'first and last love' ahead of his funeral on Tuesday. He played for Marton FC during the 1990s and later for Fountains FC

'He was always one of the cool lads in school; all the girls fancied him.

'Even when I met him again his hair was always perfect and he always smelt amazing; and he loved his designer clothes, you never saw him without his Hugo Boss or Armani on.'

Ms Jennison said Mr Boase loved to go on family holidays abroad but would be just as happy walking on Saltburn pier with a bag of chips.

Ms Jennison said: 'Whatever we did, wherever we went, he made it special for us. I've told the kids that God only takes the best and that's exactly what he was.'

His death follows a secondary school teacher, 55-year-old Paul Hilditch, passing away just two days before Christmas after contracting Covid-19, with his heartbroken mother saying she didn't get the chance to see him in hospital to say goodbye. 

Mother tells of her grief as 'dedicated and inspirational' secondary school teacher, 55, with no underlying health conditions dies from Covid two days after Christmas leaving three children behind

Diana Hilditch said she didn't get the chance to see her son, Paul, 55, in hospital to say goodbye before he died of coronavirus 

The heartbroken mother of a secondary school teacher who died from Covid-19 just two days after Christmas said she didn't get the chance to see him in hospital to say goodbye.

Teesside teacher and divorced father-of-three Paul Hilditch, 55, had no known underlying health conditions and it is not yet clear how he caught the virus. 

His mother, Diana, told MailOnline today: 'I am absolutely heartbroken. It is just such a terrible thing to have lost him. He had no underlying health conditions. He even climbed mountains. 

'The worse thing is that I didn't get to see him to say goodbye. He was in hospital for two weeks and on a ventilator.'  

Parents, pupils and teachers have described Mr Hilditch, who taught engineering and technology at Conyers School for four years, as 'dedicated and inspirational' following his death on Sunday. 

Headteacher Louise Spellman said they were 'deeply saddened' at the sudden loss of their colleague and friend, adding that he was 'a truly dedicated, caring and well-loved member of staff'. 

Paul Hilditch, 55, died just two days after Christmas following a two-week battle with Covid-19. His mother said: 'I am absolutely heartbroken. It is just such a terrible thing to have lost him. He had no underlying health conditions. He even climbed mountains. The worse thing is that I didn't get to see him to say goodbye. He was in hospital for two weeks and on a ventilator'

His death comes as coronavirus cases continue to surge across the UK and ministers announced plans to close every secondary school and hundreds of primary schools for at least an extra week. 

That leaves parents and schoolchildren facing further disruption after amid fears over the the effect of home learning on pupil's development and mental well-being. 

But many teachers and unions had been demanding that  schools shut before the Christmas holiday, while the government insisted on keeping them open. 

Ministers also threatened legal action against schools that closed early. But in a dramatic u-turn, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson yesterday confirmed that most secondary school pupils will see the start of term delayed by a fortnight to January 18, and exam year pupils will return on January 13. 

Engineering teacher Paul Hilditch, pictured with his daughter Camille in 2018, died on December 27, prompting an outpouring of grief from teachers, pupils and parents at Conyers School in Teesside

Teaching unions have also criticised the Government's handling of the pandemic as they called for greater risk assessments to protect staff from the virus.

Today Britain announced a further 964 Covid-19 deaths on top of another 55,892 new infections.

Judy Sisterton, 72, had lived next door to Mr Hilditch in the pretty village of Heighington, County Durham, for eight years.

The pensioner, who works in the kitchen of a nearby pub, said: 'Paul was such a lovely man.

'I am just in shock by the news. One of the other neighbours said his car hadn't moved for a while but I didn't think much of it as I assumed he was on his school holidays.

'He was very well respected in the community.

'I am surprised to hear about what's happened as he was healthy and young. He was always out his bike.

'He has been a great help to me throughout the pandemic, always asking if he could get me anything from the shops. It's so sad.'

It is understood Mr Hilditch has three children, two adult daughters and a son.

Ms Spellman said: 'Paul was a fantastic teacher who thought so much of his students and really gave his all to ensure they achieved their best,' she said. 

'Paul loved our school and our students: he will be remembered as a kind, devoted and truly brilliant teacher.

'All of our thoughts and prayers are with Paul's friends and family at this time.' 

Tributes were paid on social media to Mr Hilditch, who was a keen member of local reenactment group the Northern World War Two Association. 

The parents of a pupil said: 'My son really took to him and the way he taught - despite having only been taught by him since September.

'Absolutely heartbreaking, thoughts and love to his family.'

Another wrote: 'Such a terrible loss. My daughter thought he was a great teacher. My thoughts go out to his family.'

One shocked pupil said: 'No way I'm reading this, he was one the best teachers in there. Rest in peace.' 

Mr Hilditch's death comes as the Government announced that Year 11 and Year 13 classes will return to school on January 11, with other secondary school pupils heading back a week later.

Primary schools in heavily afflicted areas such as London, Essex and Kent will now not be allowed to reopen on January 4 as ministers had hoped. 

Only vulnerable children and the children of key workers will be allowed to return to their desks, while the rest will be forced to attend lessons online.

The Prime Minister also pushed back the start of term for the bulk of secondary school pupils by a week, meaning they are now set to return on January 18 rather than January 11 - when only Years 11 and 13 preparing for exams will go back.

Dr Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, said the government needed to prioritise access to a Covid-19 vaccine for teachers and education staff. 

He said: 'It has been abundantly clear throughout the autumn term that the pandemic is seriously impacting on the ability of all schools to continue to operate normally and safely. 

Total national lockdown by the end of January is inevitable, says SAGE expert as 20million are plunged into Tier 4 and Boris pins everything on Oxford vaccine after 981 die in worst daily death toll since April 

Another national lockdown is inevitable, a SAGE expert warned today as 20million more people across England woke up to life under Tier Four rules, imposed after the UK yesterday recorded its worst Covid death toll since April.

Dr Mike Tildesley, a member of the scientific modelling committee, which advises the government as a sub-group of SAGE, says the whole country will likely have to be plunged into Tier 4 or a national lockdown before the end of January in a bid to stem spiralling infection rates.

In a stark warning on BBC Radio 4 today, he said: 'Cases are rising in a really concerning way, so I suspect that unfortunately we will see a ramping-up even further of restrictions, probably more of the country being in Tier 4 or ultimately probably a national lockdown before we get to the end of January'.

It comes as a Boris Johnson last night warned of a new 'reality' with mutant Covid rampant on Wednesday as he plunged virtually the whole of England into brutal lockdown until the spring - with the UK recording 981 deaths in the worst daily toll since April and vaccines now the only hope of escape.   

'However, schools have faced continued and unnecessary uncertainty which has created huge anxiety for pupils, parents and staff which could and should have been avoided.

'Risk assessment measures must be urgently reviewed and updated in light of the new dangers that have been identified by the Government.' 

The Department for Education is racing to put a mass testing system in place, but has warned the curbs could need to be even wider than for primaries as older children are more likely to spread the disease. The situation is not expected to become clear until the next review date of January 13.   

One parent said today that the situation is 'totally ridiculous', adding: 'The school at one end of the street I live in will be closed while the school at the other end is open'. 

Another said their area had been 'split in two' with 'schools on one side of the road closed, the other side open'. 

Around two-thirds of schools in the capital will be shut for an extra fortnight from Monday - meaning there are many households where one child will be forced to stay at home while another will still go to school in a neighbouring borough.   

With most secondary schools shut until at least January 18 - or even indefinitely - millions of children face weeks or even months of 'inadequate' virtual classes.

Experts say that months at home during the first lockdown saw many youngsters regress academically, socially and developmentally with only vulnerable children and the children of key workers in the worst-hit areas allowed to return to their desks next week.

Jon Richards, head of education at the union Unison, said: 'Everyone agrees it's important for schools and colleges to open but it can't be at any expense when infections are rising.

'This delay for secondary schools is a sensible decision, giving more time to organise mass testing effectively to limit the spread. Primary and early years reopening should also be delayed because social distancing isn't really possible.

'Ministers should also ensure any moves to extend the vaccine priority list must cover all school staff and not just teachers.'

Oxford University professor pays tribute to elderly mother who died from Covid just days before she was due to be vaccinated as she told medics to give her ventilator to someone else

An Oxford University professor who has been a leading Covid researcher has revealed her mother has died from the virus just days before she was due to be vaccinated.

Trisha Greenhalgh, an expert in primary care, said her elderly mother even told medics to give someone else her ventilator in one of her final acts.

The professor has worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic researching the virus,  presenting evidence to parliament on long Covid and campaigning for compulsory mask-wearing long before the government enforced it. 

Oxford University professor Trish Greenhalgh has revealed her mother (pictured together) has died from Covid days before she was due to be vaccinated

The expert in primary care, said her elderly mother even told medics to give someone else her ventilator

In an emotional post, the former GP wrote on Twitter: 'Goodbye Mum. You died of Covid-19, days before you were due to be vaccinated. 

'You told them to give the ventilator to someone else. I said a FaceTime farewell from a hospital car park. You will have a Zoom funeral. 

'You are 2020. Thanks to the devoted, exhausted #NHS staff.' 

Her message struck a chord with many who sent her messages of condolence on the social media platform.

Piers Morgan replied: 'What incredibly sad, heart-breaking news. I'm so sorry Trisha.

Her message struck a chord with many who sent her messages of condolence on the social media platform

'Your mother sounds a wonderfully courageous and selfless lady. She must have been so proud of all your heroic efforts to combat this awful virus. RIP.'

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan also shared a touching tribute, saying: 'Heartbreaking news. So sorry for your loss Trish.

'Your mum must have been so proud of you for all the lives you've helped to save this year from this awful virus. You are in our thoughts.' 

Many, including Good Morning Britain's Susanna Reid, were touched by the professor's tribute and her mother's final moments

The professor followed up her viral post with another paying tribute to her late mother.

She wrote: 'My mum would have been amused to know she had trended on Twitter. 

'But almost *every* >80yo who has a ceiling-of-care conversation reasons similarly. 

'When they agree to DNACPR do not attempt , no-ventilator etc, they're being altruistic about limited resources.'

The professor followed up her viral post with another paying tribute to her late mother