EXCLUSIVE: Unvaccinated father-of-seven, 50, dies of Covid and will be buried two days before Xmas after he ‘didn’t get round to having jab’ – spurring wife, 45, who ‘didn’t believe in vaccine’ to book her first dose

• Unvaccinated father-of-seven has died of Covid in hospital after ‘putting off jab’ 
• Martin Mulcahy, 50, of Nuneaton, Warwickshire, died from virus on December 5
• Security guards funeral is two days before Christmas leaving family ‘broken’
• His bank account was frozen and family set up GoFundMe to make ends meet
• Unvaccinated wife Tracey, 45, has now booked appointment for first dose of jab

An unvaccinated father-of-seven who died of Covid in hospital after ‘putting off his jab’ has left his devastated family to face his funeral just two days before Christmas.

Martin Mulcahy, from Camp Hill in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, tested positive for coronavirus on November 4 after doctors found his oxygen levels were low and he was left struggling to breathe.   

The 50-year-old security guard was taken by ambulance to the George Eliot hospital where he was placed on a ventilator – but tragically he died on December 5.

Martin had not been vaccinated because he ‘hadn’t got round to it’ and his wife, Tracey, 45, who ‘didn’t believe in the vaccine at first’ has now scheduled an appointment for her first dose.

She said it is now her ‘priority’ because she has ‘witnessed the devastating effects first-hand’.

Unvaccinated father-of-seven Martin Mulcahy (left), from Camp Hill in Nuneaton, Warwickshire,  died of Covid in hospital after ‘putting off jab’ – but his wife, Tracey (right), 45, who ‘didn’t believe in the vaccine at first’ has now scheduled an appointment for her first dose

The father-of-seven, who work as a security guard, was taken by ambulance to the George Eliot hospital where he was placed on a ventilator but tragically he died on December 5

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Tracey, who is unvaccinated, said: ‘As a family we are heartbroken. He was the best father to our seven children and the most caring man on the planet.

‘I still haven’t processed what’s happened and I keep expecting him to walk through the door any minute. It feels like a nightmare that won’t end.

‘Martin caught Covid after myself and our seven children – aged between nine and 25 – tested positive in late October.

‘He’d always been fit and healthy, but after contracting the virus he constantly complained of shortness of breath and tiredness. He was like a different man.

‘The symptoms seemed to get worse and after calling an ambulance, he was later admitted into the intensive care unit at the George Eliot hospital on November 13.

‘I was sceptical of the vaccine at first and didn’t believe in it, but now I have booked an appointment for my first dose after Christmas. I’ve even told my kids that they are all having it. It’s a priority’

Martin’s health rapidly declined when he was admitted to hospital, but Tracey was able to see him the day before he tragically died on December 5.

Tracey, who had been in a relationship with Martin for over 20 years, said: ‘I was able to stay with him a few hours, which I’m incredibly grateful for, as it ended up being the last time I would see him alive. 

‘It was heartbreaking seeing him. He was lying on the hospital bed with tubes coming out of him and surrounded by different machines and wires, whilst on a ventilator. I held his hand the entire time to let him know I was there.

‘A matter of hours later, I was delivered the news that he had passed away. I’m still numb – it doesn’t feel real. 

‘I am unsure whether Martin had contracted Delta, or Omicron, but it has spurred me to get the first dose of my vaccine.

‘Now I will make sure every one of our children has it. If Martin had been jabbed, he may still be with us today.

Martin’s health rapidly declined when he was admitted to hospital, but Tracey was able to see him the day before he tragically died on December 5

‘We have seven amazing children together and they are all devastated and struggling to process the news. Three of our children are autistic and it’s been so hard to keep positive – especially as the funeral is two days before Christmas day.’ 

Martin’s bank account has also been frozen and Tracey is struggling to make ends meet as she has no extra income and is worried about Christmas.

She added: ‘A GoFundMe page was set up by my sister Deborah Lea and I’m incredibly grateful to those who have donated money.

‘It’s a tough time of year for everyone and I appreciate every single penny that people have given my family. 

‘Everything I have is in Martin’s name and the bank have told me his account won’t be active until the New Year.

‘So I am relying on donations, friends and family to get through Martin’s funeral and the festive period.

‘Despite the tragic circumstances, I am determined to try and keep positive for the sake of my children.’ 

To donate to the family’s GoFundMe appeal to help raise money for Martin’s funeral and Christmas, click here. 

This news comes after official data revealed that almost six in 10 Covid deaths among the under-50s in England last month were unvaccinated people.

Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows 156 people aged 50 and under died within 28 days of a positive Covid test and 89 of them had not come forward for a single Covid jab.

Data from the UK Health Security Agency shows 156 people aged 50 and under died in November within 28 days of a positive Covid test and 89 of them had not come forward for a single Covid jab. There were 61 deaths among vaccinated people, while the vaccination status were not recorded among six fatalities.

The figures equate to 57 per cent of deaths in the age group and lay bare how the unvaccinated are most at-risk from severe outcomes after catching Covid.

Nearly 80 per cent of 18 to 49-year-olds in England are double-jabbed, meaning the number of unvaccinated deaths occured in a much smaller group of people.

NHS workers say they are frustrated with the figures, because hospital admissions and deaths among unvaccinated Britons could be avoided if they came forward for a vaccine.   

Meanwhile, a ‘fit and healthy’ mother-of-two has died from Covid-19 after ignoring her best friend’s pleas to get vaccinated.  

Nuria Daniela Gomes, 38, tested positive on December 2 and passed away just seven days later, leaving her daughters, Erica, 20, and Myra, 17, bereft.

Ms Gomes, originally from Angola, told her friend, Mena Tando, she had Covid on December 3 – but said ‘there was no need to worry about it’.  

Ms Tando said she tried to persuade Ms Gomes to get vaccinated, but the mother-of-two was ‘concerned’ about things she had read on social media.

Ms Tando, 37, said: ‘I tried to persuade her to get vaccinated, but she was concerned. She had read things on social media about there being possible consequences in a couple of years. I am missing her a lot.’

Ms Tando said she dropped groceries off on Ms Gomes’ doorstep in Liverpool and kept in touch for the next few days.

By December 7 Ms Tando was concerned about her friend’s persistent cough. Then, she had a missed call at 1am.

When Ms Tando rang back, Myra said her mother had been taken to hospital. By 2am on December 9, Ms Tando was told Ms Gomes had died.

She said: ‘It was a big shock for me, I had been speaking to her all week and to get a call to say she had passed away I just could not believe it.

Ms Gomes’ daughter Erica recalled the traumatic minutes when her mother’s health dramatically worsened.

Nuria Daniela Gomes (pictured), 38, tested positive on December 2 and passed away just seven days later, leaving her daughters, Erica, 20, and Myra, 17, bereft

She said: ‘Mum didn’t want to sleep alone so we put a mattress in her room. We could hear she was struggling to breathe. I was panicking, but she said she was fine.

‘When we switched the light on we saw her hands were purple, her lips were purple and her eyes looked huge. It was really disturbing.’

The two sisters called an ambulance and performed CPR until paramedics arrived, but their mother died before she made it to Whiston Hospital.

Erica said: ‘It was all happening so quickly. I still have flashbacks and then I try to quickly forget.’

Myra said she and her sister prayed for their mother as she struggled. ‘Ever since we were little my mum has been taking care of us on her own. She is all we had.

‘She was so hard-working, caring, lovely, funny, she brought us up with respect and taught us everything we know. We were really close. She always heard us when we wanted to talk.

Erica recalled the traumatic minutes when her mother’s health dramatically worsened. Pictured, Ms Gomes

‘She taught us to be grateful for everything we had. She always helped everyone she met and was the most genuine soul anyone could ever meet.

‘Everything I am is because of her. She impacted my life in a way no one else could.’

Ms Gomes’ closest friend, Elizabeth Neto, 35, said they were all ‘massively shocked’ and left trying to come to terms with what has happened.

Ms Neto, a foster carer and administration officer from Salford, said: ‘It’s surreal, it’s unbelievable, it’s a massive shock.’

She remembers Nuria as ‘very open, very friendly, always smiling, always in a good mood’.

They had both moved to the UK from Angola, and bonded 17 years ago when a mutual friend introduced them.

When they both became mothers they were always part of each other’s milestone celebrations.

Ms Neto said: ‘We would be at weddings together, we shared celebrations. I am trying to come to terms with it.’

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