Mum of twin boys, 6, dies of coronavirus despite no underlying health conditions
A MUM of six-year-old twin boys died of coronavirus despite having no known underlying health conditions.
Caroline Saunby, 48, had taken "every precaution under the sun" but contracted the deadly bug and died in hospital days later.
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The mum from New Marske, North Yorkshire had collapsed at home before being rushed to James Cook University Hospital, where she died on Sunday.
She leaves behind her two twin sons Joseph and Elliot and her husband Vic.
Now her devastated twin sister Sarah Jarvis has spoken out in a bid to encourage others to take the coronavirus threat seriously.
Mrs Saunby's twin sister Sarah Jarvis said the death had "ripped the entire family apart" and spoke of her "unbearable heartbreak".
And she urged people to follow government guidelines to curb the spread of the deadly disease.
'MOST GENEROUS PERSON IN THE WORLD'
Mrs Jarvis told The Northern Echo: "We have always been an extremely close family, so much so that most of us live on the same estate just a few minutes walk from one another.
"She was a friend to hundreds and was the most genuine and generous person in the world.
"Caroline took every precaution under the sun.
"She was practising social distancing, she was washing her hands, took hers and everyone's safety seriously, was healthy - yet she was taken from us in only four days.
"This virus does not discriminate."
The UK's death toll from coronavirus stands at 2,392, with more than 29,000 confirmed cases.
Mrs Jarvis said her sister was a "germophobe and obsessive hand-washer".
She began getting symptoms of the virus on Thursday, with a sore throat which she thought was tonsillitis.
But by Sunday she had developed breathing difficulties and collapsed at home.
An ambulance and air ambulance were rushed to the scene, and Mrs Saunby was put on a ventilator at home.
Mrs Jarvis and other relatives who arrived on Mrs Saunby's street watched her being taken off in the ambulance, but she died later in hospital.
Mrs Jarvis thanked medical staff for their efforts to save her twin sister.
And she warned others who think they aren't at risk from the virus to take it seriously as she tries to raise awareness of its dangers.
She said: "All of the doctors and nurses at James Cook were incredible, as were the paramedics with the Great North Air Ambulance - we are forever grateful for all their efforts.
"People believe that because they are young and healthy they aren't at risk but are the reality of how coronavirus can change anyone's life."
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It is not known where Mrs Saunby may have caught the disease, with her family now in self-isolation.
During the "worst moment of their life" as Mrs Saunby was being taken to the ambulance, someone driving past recorded the scene and uploaded it it to social media.
Mrs Jarvis paid tribute to her sister in a touching Facebook post, writing: "She was just the most kind, selfless generous loyal person you would ever meet.
"Nothing was ever too much trouble; she couldn't help being kind to all creatures and was loved by so many."
Mr Saunby, Joseph and Elliot are still in self-isolation as well as Mrs Jarvis and her family.
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A JustGiving fundraising page set up to help the family has raised more than £14,000 already.
Mrs Jarvis said: "We will all do what we can to help Vic and the boys through this, but we don't know whether Caroline had life insurance and there is the worry of now only having one wage coming in to support two children.
"My only solace is knowing that Caroline was able to meet the love of her life and have her beautiful boys who were her entire world."
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