A loving dad-of-three described as a "picture of health" has tragically died of coronavirus in hospital, having said his last goodbye during a 30-second phone call to his family.
Des Louza, a technical engineer from Wolverhampton, had no previous health conditions but "rapidly deteriorated" just a week after contracting the virus, reports BirminghamLive.
Coronavirus visiting restrictions in the hospital meant he could only speak to his family for just 30 seconds over the phone before he was rushed to a new ward and placed in a coma.
The granddad of three spent the next five weeks fighting for his life but tragically died last March.
Now, his daughter is now fundraising to help keep National Covid Memorial Wall a permanent fixture in London.
His daughter Jodie Louza said: "He must have been panicking. He was very weak and he just said bye and I think in his head he thought he wouldn't get to say bye to us.
"We had a 30-second phone call with him. We could tell it was taking all his strength to say bye, that's all he could physically say.
"We were just distraught. You can’t really prepare for that - not being able to see him or be next to him. It was really tough."
The 25-year-old added: "My dad was the picture of health for his age.
"You really don't know how easily it could be you or someone you love. People should not forget that it’s still out there."
The last text he sent to his daughter was "I’m doing my best to fight this", Jodie recalled.
Technical engineer Mr Louza worked for firm Atlas Copco throughout the pandemic until he fell ill with coronavirus in December 2020.
Jodie and her mum Kate, 56, looked after him for about a week at their Bilston home and both caught coronavirus themselves in the process.
But five weeks after being placed in the coma, the close-knit family were only able to visit him when medics called to say he was not going to make it.
Jodie and mum Kate - who was married to Mr Louza for almost 30 years - went to the Covid ward, donning HAZMAT suits and helmets to say their final goodbyes.
Her two heartbroken brothers stayed behind after becoming terrified they would end up catching Covid for the first time.
Jodie, a receptionist, said: "They couldn't understand why it affected him in the way that it did. They were hoping they could wake him up.
"We couldn't hold him and be normal.
"It was heartbreaking, really hard to digest. I was stubborn, I kept telling myself "he will keep fighting". He was a fighter and a very strong man. I had never seen him ill before.
"He was very into his health and fitness. He was very humble.
"He was very fit. He had looked the same since he was 20, he did not age. It was such a shock.
"He was brilliant with his advice, he was loved. We would always have family game nights and he was really competitive and didn’t like to lose. He was an inspiration.
"I still can't really comprehend it. It’s nearly been a year and I still don't understand it."
Jodie added the family are unsure where he contracted Covid, as he strictly followed the rules.
"It could have been something as simple as someone in the supermarket passing him. He really deteriorated rapidly," she added.
Just three days after Mr Louza died, the devastated family received an NHS letter saying he was now eligible for the vaccine.
Jodie added: "It was unimaginable. I was very worried about Covid. I had a lot of people in my age bracket saying it wouldn't be that bad.
"It’s the worst thing in the world. Unless you have been through this, it’s hard to realise how difficult it is.
"He didn't have the funeral he should have had, it was really controlled and not what we would have wanted."
Jodie is now planning on running the Carver Wolverhampton Half Marathon in April in memory of her cherished dad.
She has already raised more than £700 for The National Covid Memorial Wall - a London-based mural honouring those lost during the pandemic.
She said: "I think he would be proud. I would like to think he would be at the finish line.
"I needed something to motivate me, to work towards. I think it’s easy to get lost in grief.
"It makes me feel better knowing I am doing something in his memory and knowing it’s going to benefit other people because I know we are not the only ones who have been through this."
To donate to the family's fundraiser, visit Jodie's GoFundMe.
