Leeds daughter's heartbreaking last phone call to mum before coronavirus death

Yvonne Greenall, who was married to husband Graham for 45 years, died in the intensive care unit at St James's Hospital on Wednesday April 15.

Graham Greenall has worked as a steward at Leeds United for more than 30 years and more recently with the club's media department.

Mrs Greenall's youngest daughter Helen Cowling, 39, said she last spoke to her mum on the phone on the evening of Saturday April 11 - the day before she was taken to intensive care.

Mrs Cowling, also of Pudsey, said: "All I remember saying was 'we are all thinking about you and we really want you to get better soon.'

"It was horrendous for my dad. We couldn't go to see her and we couldn't comfort her. The doctors and nurses were fantastic at keeping my dad updated.

Mrs Greenall, who had three children and six grandchildren, started suffering flu-like symptoms on or around March 19.

On April 5, her husband called NHS 111 after her health deteriorated and the call handler arranged for an ambulance to take Mrs Greenall to St James's Hospital.

She tested negative for coronavirus and was re-tested the following day and was found to have the illness.

Mrs Cowling said her mother's condition deteriorated rapidly and she was taken to a Covid-19 intensive care ward at St James's on Sunday April 12 and put on a ventilator.

Mrs Greenall was put on dialysis after her kidneys started to fail and she also lost the use of her arms and legs.

Mrs Cowling said: "We were told there was not much more they could do and they could just make her comfortable.

"It's really difficult because in normal circumstances you would be there with family, be able to hug them and comfort them, but now you just can't.

"We are having to do everything over the phone."

Mrs Cowling said her mum was a well-known and popular figure in Pudsey and hundreds of people have offered their condolences to the family

Mrs Greenall lived on one Pudsey street all her life after being brought up in one house on Southroyd Park and later moving to two more properties on the street.

Mrs Cowling said "She would always take the time to stop and talk to people.

"She had a group of friends who she would go out with on a Saturday night to the Great Northern pub on Richardshaw Lane.

"She loved doing crosswords and puzzles and she loved her crime dramas on TV. She loved Patrick Swayze as well!"

Mrs Greenall also leaves son Richard, 42; daughter Lisa Wood, 44, and grandchildren Max,12; Grace, 11; Lily, nine; Amy, 12; Kiana, eight; and Maverick, 16.

Mrs Cowling said: "It is a very real disease and has hit us really hard and taken away our mum from us.

"People need to realise how serious this is and how quickly it can take loved ones away from you.

"I would say to people, please stay at home and please stay safe."