The tragic stories of Leeds' Covid deaths as told by their families, one year since virus hit Yorkshire

The World Health Organisation (WHO) first learned of this new virus on December 31 2019, following a report of a cluster of cases of viral pneumonia in Wuhan, China.

In Leeds, more than 1,000 people have died with the virus according to the latest data.

From popular landlords to medical staff, loving grandparents to sports fanatics, the loss in the city has been tragic.

Over the past 12 months, the Yorkshire Evening Post has highlighted the stories of the faces behind the numbers, paying tribute to the incredible lives they led and speaking to the people they left behind.

Three vaccines have been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in the UK and thousands of Yorkshire residents have had their first jabs.

As we mark the anniversary of the first Leeds Coronavirus case in late January 2020, here are the stories of some of the amazing people we have so sadly lost.

Click on the names of each victim of the virus to read their story in full.

Liam Downing, 30Liam Downing was a popular disk jockey from Middleton, Leeds, who courageously battled leukaemia for two years.

On March 27, 2020 - just four days after his birthday - Liam finally lost his brave battle and died from coronavirus after battling leukaemia for two years.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post, his sister Laura said Liam left behind three nieces and two nephews.

Liam made a bucket list of things he would like to achieve shortly before he died and a fundraiser was set up in his memory, raising money for his funeral and for donations towards the hospital that cared for him for many years.

Martyn and Tina Rodgers, both 58Two Leeds brothers told of their devastation after both of their beloved parents died from Covid-19 within just 12 days.

Martyn and Tina Rodgers were very well known and popular among the Leeds Rhinos community.

Both Martyn and Tina - who had been married for more than 25 years and lived in Cottingley, Leeds - tested positive for Covid-19, their sons Craig, 33, and Andy, 25, told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

In an emotional tribute, the brothers said their world fell apart as their parents' health deteriorated.

Tina tragically passed away on January 2, having spent Christmas and New Year in hospital.

Martyn was given the devastating news that she had passed away as he too battled against the condition.

However, Martyn sadly also died just 12 days later on January 14.

Craig told the YEP: "They were childhood sweethearts.

"We knew with my mum's health it was a ticking time bomb but it was so hard to take.

"We can't believe it."

Craig said his parents had been married for more than 25 years after falling in love as children.

Both Martyn and Tina lived in Leeds for their entire lives.

Craig bravely spoke to the Yorkshire Evening Post to raise awareness for the real stories behind the horrific virus.

He admitted that watching death statistics on the news "didn't seem real".

But he added: "You hear it on the news but you don't believe it.

"It is so hard, it has happened to us."

A funeral will take place in February for Martyn and Tina - with a service just an hour apart on the same day.

Craig said: "Mum and dad were the life and soul of the party.”

Tony Johnston, 54The family of the popular pub landlord Tony Johnston from Leeds - who died from coronavirus - paid a heartfelt tribute to him in the Yorkshire Evening Post.

Tony ran The Coach & Horses in Rothwell with his wife Debbie and his son Billy, 23.

The family thanked people for kind messages and support following Tony's death.

They said: "We would like to thank everyone for their lovely messages, cards, flowers and help at this awful time.

"It has been a great comfort knowing there are so many people out there thinking about us.

"Tony had some tough times but his family meant everything to him.

"He will be truly missed by us, his family, friends and everyone in the community.

"He will be remembered for the kindness, humbleness and happiness he brought to everyone.

"We love and miss you, Debbie, Billy & Sam."

Tony was survived by wife Debbie, sons Billy and Sam, brothers Ray, Dez, and Steven and his sister Lynn.

Zauma Ekoli, 55Mother-of-five Zauma Ekoli, an agency nurse at Harrogate District Hospital, died with the virus.

Mrs Ekoli had worked on a coronavirus ward before her death.

In a tribute, her daughter Naomie told the PA news agency she wanted her mother to be remembered as "God-fearing, strong, beautiful and caring".

"It meant everything to be a nurse, she's been doing it for as long as I remember, more than 30 years," she said.

Jill Foster, chief nurse at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said Ms Ekoli, known as Josie, was a "much-valued" member of staff.

"Zauma Ekoli, known as Josie, was a much-valued agency nurse who has worked with the Trust for the past two years," she said in a statement.

"She worked a range of shifts in a number of wards and departments.

"Josie will be sadly missed by all her friends and colleagues at Harrogate District Hospital and our thoughts are with her family at this difficult time."

Bruce Hammond, 89Bruce Hammond, who ran pharmacies on Victoria Road and Otley Road in Guiseley, died from coronavirus on April 6, 2020, aged 89.

Mr Hammond and his wife Angela were both admitted to hospital suffering from Covid-19 on returning home after a Caribbean cruise.

Mr Hammond, who was a father and a grandfather, was a member of the Rotary Club of Aireborough and a former club president.

Robert Mirfield, of the Rotary Club of Aireborough, said: "Bruce and Angela had difficulty in being able to leave a cruise ship early, not succeeding until docking in Cuba.

"On returning home Angela went into hospital with Covid-19, recovered and came home. Bruce followed her into hospital, was able to be visited by a now immune Angela but did not survive.

“He will be very sadly missed by us all."

Yvonne Greenall, 66Yvonne 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, 2020.

Her daughter spoke to the YEP of their final phone call.

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 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."

Selim Ghebru Gaim, 34The family of a Leeds Royal Mail worker who died from coronavirus spoke of their heartbreak at losing their 'dearly loved son, brother and friend'.

Selim Ghebru Gaim tested positive for coronavirus after showing mild symptoms, but was later admitted to intensive care at St James's Hospital.

He died in hospital on April 15, 2020, aged just 34.

Selim was born in Sudan and studied in Russia before he moved to Leeds, where he worked at a Royal Mail sorting office.

His cousin Danait Fikadu said: "Our dearly loved son, brother and friend Selim has sadly passed away.

"He was a hard working person with a great personality and he was sociable with everyone in his community.

"He moved to the UK for a better life, where he lived a normal life working and bettering himself.

"He was a healthy, intelligent man who had an infectious energy.

"We are devastated that his life has come to an end because of this terrible virus."

Andy Powell, 52, and Nazrul HussainAndy Powell, 52, and Nazrul Hussain, whose age has not been released, were bus drivers who died after contracting the virus.

Mr Powell, a grandfather from Morley who was a passionate Leeds United fan, passed away on November 1, 2020.

He was popular among the LUFC community on Twitter, and posted updates from hospital in the weeks before his death.

Mr Hussain, who died on October 19, 2020, was a father of five who had already lost his brother to Covid-19.

Many First Bus drivers changed their Facebook profile picture to a black ribbon to honour their colleagues.

Khulisani Nkala, 46Khulisani Nkala, known as Khuli, was a mental health nurse who mainly worked at the Newsam Centre in Seacroft.

The 46-year-old sadly died after testing positive for Covid-19 on Friday, April 17, 2020.

Dr Sara Munro, Chief Executive of Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust paid tribute to the "well-respected and selfless" nurse - who was the first to die with the virus at the trust.

Dr Munro said: "It is with great sadness that I have to announce that Khuli Nkala died from coronavirus.

"This is the first member of our particular NHS family to lose their life to Covid-19, and I sincerely hope it will be the last.

"Khuli was a well-respected and selfless professional nurse, who “always put the patient first”, and will be greatly missed by his colleagues.

Mary Mirfin, 86Great grandmother Mary Mirfin, who suffered from dementia and type two diabetes, had been a resident at Sunnyview House Care Home in Beeston for 12 months.

She was taken to Leeds General Infirmary on Tuesday April 14 after falling ill with coronavirus symptoms.

Mary Mirfin was a retired cleaner and canteen assistant who worked at Marshalls in Morley for many years and enjoyed playing bingo in her spare time.

A mother-of-four, she also leaves children Paul Davies, Yvonne George, and Barry Mirfin.

She had 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Mrs Murfin's husband Tom died aged 67 in 2006.

Paying tribute to her mother, Gail McCarthy said: "She was a lovely woman who was fiery and had a wicked sense of humour.

"She used to wind everybody up and then sit back and watch and laugh. They loved her down at Sunnyview and the staff there were amazing."

Colin Barton, 68The family of grandfather Colin Barton, 68, of Gledhow, spoke of their pain at losing him so quickly to the "brutal" illness and paid tribute to the doctors and nurses who cared for him.

Mr Barton, who had two children and two grandchildren, had undergone chemotherapy and surgery to remove part of his left lung before being given the all-clear from cancer on March 17.

Mr Barton, who was married to wife Daphne, 69, for 47-years, was fit and well and the couple were looking forward to making holiday plans.

Mr Barton started suffering coronavirus symptoms on March 27.

He fell at home on Friday April 3 and was taken by ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary, where he tested positive for coronavirus.

His health deteriorated and he was put on a ventilator in a Covid-19 intensive care ward, where he died on April 15.

Mr Barton's youngest son Paul, 39, of Rawdon, said: "The family were excited when he got the all-clear, it has been a shock to us all.

Tony Clay, 60Grandfather-of-two Tony Clay, of Bardsey - a keen golfer and regular gym goer - died at Leeds General Infirmary on April 14.

Kathryn De Prudhoe said her father, a retired civil engineer, had flu-like symptoms for around two-weeks before falling at home in the early hours of Saturday April 11 after becoming confused and disoriented.

He was taken to Leeds General Infirmary by ambulance and admitted to a Covid-19 intensive care ward after testing positive for coronavirus.

Doctors told Mr Clay's family it was suspected he had suffered a heart attack and had a bleed on the brain.

Mrs de Prudhoe said: "They looked after him really well and they gave him everything they could possibly give him.

"He just went really quickly and peacefully and they held his hand until the end."

Clifford Healey, 88Great-grandfather Clifford Healey, 88, passed away at Leeds General Infirmary after being admitted two day earlier,

The retired cab driver who had also travelled the world while serving in the Navy had developed a fever and although was initially stable, deteriorated rapidly in hospital and sadly passed away on Wednesday.

Widower Mr Healey had been an evacuee during the Second World War, his granddaughter Jenna Tate told The Yorkshire Post, and was well-known for his wealth of interesting stories.

Roy Helliwell, 85Mr Helliwell was taken to Leeds General Infirmary and transferred to St James's Hospital after he broke his collarbone in a fall at his home in Birstall near Batley on Saturday March 28.

A routine coronavirus test showed he had the illness, but he was not seriously ill and on the morning of Thursday April 2 he was told he was well enough to go home.

But that night his temperature soared and Mr Helliwell was kept in hospital.

Mr Helliwell, a retired television engineer, died of Covid-19 at St James's Hospital on Sunday April 5.

Mrs Smith said her father - who had five children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren - was previously fit and healthy, adding: "He used to walk at least two-miles a day.

"He liked walking around local parks and he was a keen photographer who liked going on trips to the countryside on the bus. He loved to be outside and he loved nature.

"He had a very dry wit and was very charming. He loved seeing his family and will be greatly missed."

Norman Hunter, 76Leeds United legend Norman Hunter died of the coronavirus, aged 76.

The former England, Leeds and Barnsley centre-back, Rotherham United manager and Bradford City coach was admitted to hospital after being diagnosed with covid-19.

Renowned for his fighting qualities as a player, he held the disease off until April 17.

Carol Kleinman, 78

Carol and Harvey Kleiman were both admitted to St James' Hospital in Leeds on April 1, but were transferred to separate wards.

The couple, due to celebrate their 40th anniversary in September, were able to see each other one last time as they passed each other in a hospital corridor while being transferred.

Mrs Kleiman sadly passed away from the infection four days later, on April, Sunday 5.

Peter Lunn, 94Lifelong Leeds United fan Peter Lunn, a former pit electrician from Rothwell, was diagnosed with Covid-19 on April 2 and died at St James's Hospital on April 6.

Mr Lunn played football for Northfield Avenue football team - which later became Carlton Athletic Football Club - until he was in his forties.

He was a regular spectator at Carlton Athletic Football Club and Carlton Cricket Club near Rothwell.

Mr Lunn was in the Home Guard at the start of World War Two.

Later in the war, he served as an electrician in the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm and maintained allied aircraft while stationed at Royal Naval Air Station Crail in Scotland.

He also leaves five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Chris Millross, 78Chris Millross, formerly of Moortown, died of coronavirus on April 11 at Harrogate District Hospital.

Mr Millross, who did not have any underlying health conditions, had started suffering coronavirus symptoms on March 22 and was taken to the hospital on March 27.

Pauline Millross, his wife of 55-years, was allowed an hour's visit wearing full personal protective equipment shortly before he died.

Rob Millross said: "He received wonderful care at Harrogate District Hospital."