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FAMILY HEARTBREAK

Two brothers, 53 and 59, die of coronavirus within hours of one another and just three weeks after their dad passed away

TWO brothers died beside each other in hospital after contracting coronavirus - just three weeks after their dad passed away.

Ghulam Abbass, 59, and Raza Ghulam, 53, who both lived in Newport, died on April 22.

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 Raza Abbas, left, and Ghulam Abbas died within hours of each other
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Raza Abbas, left, and Ghulam Abbas died within hours of each other

Raza Ghulam had been in a coma since March 27 with the virus – one day before his father, Ghulam Mohammed, passed away from ill health.

Ghulam Abbas was admitted to Royal Gwent Hospital on April 7 after he tested positive for the virus.

The brothers were buried next to one another at St Woolos cemetery close to their dad's grave, although only a few members could attend due to the strict coronavirus rules.

Ghulam's daughter, Rukhsar, said: "I didn't realise how much of a well-known family we had, and how much of an impact my father and his brother had on the community, until now.

"We've had so many messages of support from members of the community and further afield, and even MPs have contacted us to send their condolences.

"It shows the kind of men they were. We're all so proud of them and are totally heartbroken."

Ghulam Abbass leaves a wife and two daughters.

Raza, a manager at The Range distribution centre in Avonmouth, leaves a wife and two sons.

Nichola Mincher, Raza's wife, said: "He was nothing but a true gentleman with the heart of gold and he would do anything to help anyone. He was humble. He was our hero."

Their father was a dad-of-five and grandfather to 20. He was a founding member of the Islamic Society of Wales mosque in 1977.

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