Tributes have flooded in for a much loved Ardrossan couple who died within days of each other after testing positive for coronavirus.

Frank, 73, and Sally McKane, 77, were married for 44 years, and both sadly passed away at Crosshouse Hospital.

Sally died on January 24 with Frank by her side, who died less than two weeks later on February 4.

The couple have two sons and several grandchildren and were well known in the town having been active members of the Ardrossan Bowling Club and Frank will be known to many for his smiles and chat in Asda.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald: Frank and Sally with their family. Frank and Sally with their family.

Younger son David McKane, 41, who stays in Australia told the Herald: “My mum had COPD and she went into hospital due to exacerbation of that and then got tested and found out she was COVID-19 positive.

“My dad had what we thought was his seasonal cold but it turned out he had COVID-19 too and his oxygen levels dropped significantly to the point he became a bit confused and was not answering his phone and was taken to hospital.

“The next day my mum passed away. My dad was quite ill with COVID but he insisted on sitting with my mum and refused to go to his bed.

“He rallied for a few days but then had a bad night and I got a phone call saying he had 12-hours left.

“My wife, Nikki, and I and all the grandchildren told him we loved him and that was quite emotional for everyone.

“We were able to video call him and I just coached him to his last breath and he is now reunited with our mother. As I was speaking the nurse was stroking his hair and my dad was trying to open his eyes.

“On reflection I think my dad was thinking I was with him in the room. I am grateful for that and taking comfort from it.

“The nurses were brilliant throughout and we must thank them for the care and compassion they showed.

“To read the tributes on social media has been humbling. I knew a lot of those things already about my father but I did not quite understand the scale and just how many people thought that highly about him.

“He had a great ability if there was a bad atmosphere to say something silly and everyone would burst out laughing.

“Both of them really did touch a lot of people in a lot of ways and they knew how to enjoy themselves.”

Older son Gary, 46, added: “It’s had a heavy impact on the family including my wife Lorna who was close to them both and especially the grandchildren.

“The solace I am taking is that at least they are together now. They had been married for 44 years and were two peas in a pod.

“My dad was a social butterfly. When I was younger, we would go to the amusements and a 20-minute walk would turn into an hour and a half with the amount of people he spoke to.

“They had the best of care at Crosshouse.

“Nurses were saying Frank is a great character, he has had us laughing despite him being sick but that shows what he was like.”

“I have to thank Frank’s friend Guy Scott and Paul at Asda who raised the alarm and gave him a fighting chance and my mum’s niece Joyce and Alex who stay in the area and they are helping a lot right now.”

“One of his sayings was if you can’t do someone a good turn then don’t do them a bad turn and I tell my kids that so it’s amazing how it will keep going through the generations and that was the spirit of my dad.”

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald: Frank and Sally in their younger days. The couple were married for 44 years.Frank and Sally in their younger days. The couple were married for 44 years.

Frank was well known in the town and became a favourite among customers in Asda Ardrossan.

He worked at the store since it opened and often volunteered to do weekend shifts to allow younger staff to take a Saturday and Sunday off with many younger colleagues viewing him as a father figure.

Paul Blair, the store’s manager, said: “We are all absolutely heartbroken. He has been with us since the store opened.

"He is part of the family not just with our colleagues but with the customers too. He was such a wonderful human being and we are absolutely devastated by his loss.

"He was extremely highly regarded not just here but everywhere in the town.

“He had time for everyone. He was such a wonderful gentleman.”

The couple were also regulars at Ardrossan Bowling Club.

President David Morrison said: “Frank McKane was a loyal and humorous member of ABC for many years. Both Frank and Sally loved the social side of the club and spent many happy days there. Frank was no mean bowler who enjoyed every game, but especially the Tuesday Seniors League and the Unionist Club games on a Sunday. Sally and Frank will be sadly missed by all.

Former president Allan Harvey added: “Frank and Sally were lovely people and like a second family.

“They will never ever be forgotten at the club. They were brilliant.”