A Derby man who contracted COVID-19 after a brief Christmas Day visit to his parents has died, leaving his fiancée to plan his funeral instead of their dream wedding. Darren Fisher, 48, passed away on January 11, just days after his parents, Pat, 79, and David, 82, died from the virus. An uncle in his early 70s also died, making four family members lost to the disease.
Darren's fiancée, Tracy Latham, 50, said he visited his parents for two hours on December 25, when the government allowed households to mix in a bubble for one day. Within a week, Darren, his parents, and his uncle all tested positive for coronavirus. David, who had dementia, died on January 4 in a respite home, while Pat, admitted to Royal Derby Hospital after a fall, died two days later. Darren died in the same hospital on January 11, unaware of his parents' deaths.
Tracy, who had been with Darren for 12 years, described him as a 'giver' who 'always put a smile on faces.' The couple had planned to marry in June 2021. 'Words fail me at this time where my whole world has been shattered and left me broken,' she wrote on a GoFundMe page set up to cover funeral expenses. 'We had so much to look forward to, so many plans for the future together.'
Another uncle, Geoffrey Fisher, is recovering after being seriously ill with the virus. Tracy, who is unable to work due to a long-term health condition, said the family does not know who passed on the infection. Darren, who worked for Sainsbury's for 18 years, had 'a bit of a cold' before struggling to breathe. The tragedy highlights the risks of household mixing during the pandemic.
