Family pays heartbreaking tribute after 'wonderful' Chesterfield woman dies from coronavirus

Sheila Wilmot, 64, passed away at Chesterfield Royal Hospital on Sunday after spending five days on a ward battling the virus.

Her family said an emotional farewell to Sheila today, describing her as ‘the glue which held them together’.

Sheila’s niece Amy Hill said: “Only one family member, my mum Kate Smith, was able to be with her for the last couple of hours.

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‘It is heart-wrenching because we all would have been there to say goodbye if we could. We are that sort of family and Sheila was the glue who held us all together.

“It has been devastating.”

Sheila, who lived in the Lowgates area of Staveley with her brother Bob, was described as a ‘caring person with a massive heart’.

“She knitted clothes for the premature baby unit at Chesterfield Royal Hospital and loved to knit for all her nieces and nephews,” Amy, 31, said.

“She looked after her mum and dad and her brother Glyn when they were poorly. Family was everything to Sheila.

“Sheila had asthma much of her life and suffered with chest infections but she had so many plans for the future.”

Amy says staff at the Royal ‘could not have done more’ but ‘it was obvious they were in desperate need of more protective equipment’.

“The last thing we as a family would want is for her death to be in vain. It is time for the whole community to do its bit and come together.

“Everyone can help by buying a packet of gloves or a face mask. It might then help a member of your own family.”

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Amy’s nine-year-old daughter Summer also showed symptoms of Covid-19 on Friday having been in contact with Sheila in the last 14 days.

“Summer had a fever so we called an ambulance,” Amy said. “It was very frightening but again the paramedics were great. They didn’t want to take her to hospital. They thought she may have a throat infection so got her some antibiotics. She is now much better thankfully.

“It was obvious the paramedics didn’t have access to the PPE (personal protective equipment) which they needed.

“They only seemed to have access to one mask and one apron between them.”

Sheila leaves behind her brothers and sisters Bob, Keith and partner Kath, Neil and Jackie, Ged and Liz, Lyn and David, Alan and Pat, Ann and Barry, Andrew and Lynn, Kate and Ian and Diane and Mark plus her nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

“As a family we really want people to support Chesterfield Royal Hospital at this time and listen to what the Government is telling them,” Amy said.

“Please stay at home, support the NHS and help to save lives.”

It was revealed over the weekend that two patients had sadly died at Chesterfield Royal Hospital after testing positive for Covid-19.

The trust which runs the hospital said its ‘thoughts and condolences’ were with the families involved.

To help the Chesterfield Royal Hospital Charity, visit Amy’s Justgiving page to make a donation.