Bermondsey Millwall fan killed by coronavirus aged just 34

The family of a healthy and happy 34-year-old Millwall fan who died after catching Covid-19 has warned young people “not to think they are invincible” from coronavirus.

Terry Coakley, from Bermondsey, died on April 2 after two weeks in hospital battling the virus.

The maintenance engineer had no underlying health conditions apart from mild asthma, for which he rarely needed to use an inhaler.

His mother Joanne, 54, said: “He was a really kind, healthy, happy man. It was such a shock because he had his whole life ahead of him.

“He was in hospital for two weeks before passing away.

“We had to clear out his work van and it had the masks, gloves, wipes, antibacterial gel in there. He was doing everything you’re supposed to, to prevent catching the virus but he still got it.

“When I see groups of young people out, I just want to say ‘don’t think you’re invincible – go home’. They need to be thinking about what it will do to their families if they get ill. If they knew how we feel now they would stay indoors. No mother should have to bury her son.”

Mr Coakley began to feel ill in mid-March but his family and girlfriend Amy thought little of it at first.

Mrs Coakley said she received a text from her son saying “help” on March 18 when he was struggling to breathe. His sister Toni rushed him to a doctor who called an ambulance.

An online fundraising page has now raised more than £7,000 in Mr Coakley’s memory.

Mrs Coakley said she will be using the money for a memorial plaque and to make care packages for the NHS staff who cared for her son in his final days.

“The nurses and doctors were so brilliant,” she said.

“The hospitals are not a nice place to be at the moment. We want to do something nice for them for looking after Terry in his final days.”