Chesterfield health worker’s heartbreaking plea as her dad battles Covid

Georgia Carter's dad Fred Boulton fell ill a week ago, on the tenth day of self-isolating after testing positive, and was rushed straight into the High Dependency Unit.

The 73-year-old from Clay Cross is a retired North Yorkshire police officer and former newspaper publisher who currently works for the Kennel Club as a field officer at dog shows.

"He's a great dad and a great grandad and a great husband to my mum," said Georgia. "She feels really lost without him.

"It is bittersweet at the moment because she has a new grandchild. My sister gave birth to his third grandchild – Everleigh – yesterday and he doesn't know.

"My son, Freddie, loves him more than me. Fred calls Freddie "my little man." They have such a strong bond I can't describe it.

"He says Freddie is the best gift I could have given him.

Fred also has a third grandchild, named Penelope, who will have her first birthday in June.

"He has all the time in the world for his grandchildren," said Georgia. "He lets them get away with anything. I know he will be missing them. They're definitely missing him. Life's not the same.

"The staff on the HDU have been really great. I can't fault them. He is struggling to get his oxygen up. He was put into an induced coma. I last spoke to him five days ago and he was really confused.

"I want to spread awareness of how severe it can be. I want people not to take Covid-19 lightly. Some people just don't take it seriously enough

"I have worked with Covid patients. It's really surreal. When it happens to your family it's a massive shock."

Georgia, 22, and also from Clay Cross, previously worked in a care home and moved to the hospital in January 2020, just before Covid hit.

Georgia said Fred has suffered two heart attacks but is otherwise quite fit and healthy

"My mum calls him "the chief babysitter,"” she said. "My son Freddy is only three and doesn't quite understand. He says he is waiting for him every day."

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