A FAMILY has paid tribute to the NHS after losing their husband and dad to coronavirus.

Richard Place, 52, died at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital on Saturday, April 18.

Richard suffered from a rare form of bone marrow cancer and was due for a bone marrow transplant.

His wife, Alison, said: “He had a ten out of ten match. We thought everything would go forward and he would get his match. He would have his operation and be fine.

“He has been in and out of hospital because he has no immune system.

“He went in on March 10 with flu-like virus, it wasn’t coronavirus, but he didn’t seem to recover.

“He was tested three times for coronavirus and the third one said he had it.

“We were married 25 years and we would have had another 25 years at least.”

Alison and their two children, Molly and Harry, 23 and 21, weren’t able to visit Richard while he was in hospital due to the restrictions.

Instead, they regularly video called and stayed in touch digitally.

As a thank you for the care NHS staff gave Richard on ward 11, the family has asked for donations rather than flowers to help raise money for the ward.

Furthermore, they have created a sign to put outside their house in The Grove, Christchurch, thanking the nurses that cared for her dad.

The sign says: “Thank you NHS. RIP Dad.”

Alison continued: “They were fantastic. They were so lovely and could not have done enough for him.

“I remember asking a nurse, ‘could you refuse to treat him?’

“She looked at me as if I was mad. They are just so dedicated. They are amazing.”

Richard was an avid flyer and also ran a business called Kinson Tyres with his family.

His friend Peter Clarke said: “He was a very humble guy, worked hard all his life.

“The sort of guy who would always offer to buy the first drink. Just a nice guy.”

To donate to the family’s fundraiser, visit https://www.memorygiving.com/richardgerardplace.