Tributes have been paid to a Saltcoats granddad who died from coronavirus less than a year after losing his wife.

Chris Campbell was being treated for terminal myeloma, a type of bone cancer, while living at Arran View Care Home when he contracted COVID-19.

The 77-year-old had been responding well to treatment before he caught the virus and his condition deteriorated.

His consultant told the family Chris’ response had been the best he had seen in four years.

Chris’s wife Betty died on December 20, 2019, just ten weeks after a bowel cancer diagnosis having been his full-time carer at their home in Saltcoats.

Daughter Jennifer Murphy said: “Everything changed with a day. He was out of his home and never back in again.”

Betty had cared for Chris since he had fallen ill. The couple had been married for 58 years. Jennifer said losing her was awful.

Chris was moved into emergency respite at Arran View after Betty’s diagnosis. Since then the care home staff have looked after him and his family cannot thank them enough.

Jennifer called three of the carers Chris’ Angels and wanted to thank them specifically for how they looked after her dad.

She said: “Due to COVID restrictions in care homes, our only contact was through the telephone until we were allowed a window visit.”

After the care home went into lockdown in November, only Chris’ immediate family were allowed to visit two at a time because he was in end-of-life care due to the severity of his coronavirus.

Jennifer said: “We are so lucky that we had you as our dad. You taught us everything we know – including how to burn eggs.

“You battled with serious illness for over 32 years and a virus takes you quickly from us.

“How we all wish we could have had more time with you but COVID stopped that.

“It robbed us of precious time that we will never get back.

“Not once did you complain, you took each day as it came and always had a ‘bad

joke’ to tell us and make us laugh.”

Chris had worked at ICI before becoming a postman in the Three Towns and Jennifer said he smiled all the time.

He leaves behind daughters Jennifer, Carol, Tracy and son Drew, and grandchildren Cameron, Gregor, Niamh and Alyssa.

Jennifer said: “When my dad was in, he had a visitor nearly everyday.

“When it stopped it was a big thing for him.”

Chris had a friend, Evelyn from Kirkgate Church in Saltcoats, who would come and play him recordings of the services because he was unable to attend, but that stopped due to COVID.

Jennifer said that being unable to be with him when he needed them most because Betty had passed was devastating.

Thanks to the carers at Arran View, Chris had family by his side when he passed away on December 1.

Jennifer said: “Thanks, to Chris’s Angels. And from the family thank you to everybody that was there for him.”

Chris’ children said: “Dad we love and miss you everyday and we are privileged that you are our father.”