Heartbroken widow urges staying alert

AN ANGUS widow has spoken of her heartache after losing her husband of 20 years to Covid-19.

Days after a final farewell to her husband, Garry, 58, Belinda Robertson said people needed to remain on high alert.

And she urged others not to hesitate in getting a vaccination, saying she believed her first inoculation may have already saved her from contracting the disease.

And NHS domestic supervisor Belinda said she is grateful for the “amazing” frontline colleagues who fought for Garry.

He sought medical treatment for what he initially thought was a chest infection. However, it proved to be the virus and he faced an ultimately unsuccessful battle for survival in ICU at Ninewells Hospital.

Belinda, 48, and the couple’s 24-yearold daughter, Joni Davidson, have been devastated by their loss but shared their appreciation of the “overwhelming” support of Garry’s friends and colleagues.

And as a crowdfunder set up by the dog-loving couple for German Shepherd Welfare passed the £2,500 mark, she said Garry would have been proud of the backing flooding in for the organisation.

Dundonian Garry, a long-time foreman at the Friockheim factory of LC Packaging, first became ill in January.

“He had asthma, and because I have Crohn’s he was always extremely cautious,” said Belinda, who lives at Careston, near Brechin.

She said that although he was feeling unwell, an absence of Covid-19 symptoms led Garry to believe it was not the virus.

Belinda added: “Garry was taken in on February 6. He had a week in HDU and was then taken to ICU. He was ventilated for nine days but died on February 23,” she said.

“The hospital team were fantastic, they fought every step of the way. Garry was fit, he was healthy but sadly this blasted disease has taken someone we loved.”

She said she received her first Covid jab around three weeks before Garry’s symptoms began.

“I think that shows just how important it is to be vaccinated,” she said.

“And I would urge people to still take this terrible virus very seriously.”

The couple were devoted German shepherd owners and a wreath at Garry’s funeral was an “amazing” floral recreation of his favourite pet, Boss.