Tests are being conducted in an effort to determine what killed a 'fit and active young man' who was seriously ill with Covid-19 last year. Gavin Florence was found dead at his flat in Flintshire, North Wales, last week.
The 32-year-old was given a 50-50 chance of living when he was infected with coronavirus and admitted to hospital and also found to have pneumonia in August 2021. He recovered but later began complaining of chronic back pain.
Gavin's sister Rebecca, 23, said he was taken to hospital where doctors told him his kidneys were starting to fail. Following a brief spell in hospital, Gavin was booked in for a scan on his kidneys but was found dead at home by his friends on Friday (October 21).
Describing her older brother before he contracted Covid last year, Rebecca said he was a "fit and active young man" who "loved going to the gym". Tests are now being carried out, according to his family, to find out the precise cause of his death and an inquest is likely to be held at a later date.
Speaking to NorthWalesLive, Rebecca recalled Gavin's near-fatal brush with Covid last year. She said: "When he was in hospital the doctors told him he had a 50-50 chance of living. But when he was well-enough they sent him home. He got himself a job not long after."
She continued: "But he started complaining of back pain. It got to the point that he was having to crawl out of his flat and down the stairs because he couldn't walk because he was in so much pain.
"We took him to A&E and he refused to stay in A&E. So they gave us an appointment to come back four days later and then he stayed for a few days."
He returned home and was scheduled to have a scan on his kidneys. But he began to report more pain and some of Gavin's friends went to visit him on Friday because they hadn't heard from him for a couple of days.
Rebecca said: "They went into his flat at about 7pm and he said 'I'm feeling better'. But when they went back that night, that's when they had to break in to the flat and they found him. They thought he was asleep but he'd passed.
"They phoned the police and the ambulance. At the minute there is no cause of death. They are just doing further testing."
She added: "He loved his food and he loved going to the gym. Gav was a very well-known lad and everybody loved him. He just clicked with everyone so quickly. He was like a big brother and a father figure to everyone. He always took people under his wing and looked after them.
"He was the life and soul of the party and he always had a smile on his face. You'd rarely see him without his hat or sunglasses."
A GoFundMe appeal has now been started to help pay for Gavin's funeral and to erect a headstone in his memory. More than £4,000 has been made in donations so far. To make a donation visit the gofundme page and search for Gavin Paul Florence. Or click on the link here.
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