A DEDICATED NHS employee died in her husband’s arms after struggling to breathe following a gruelling battle with Covid-19.

Laura Tanner passed away on April 1, aged 51, leaving behind her husband, Kevin, 49, and her two sons, Kian, 13, and Ethan, 23.

After both Laura and Kevin became ill in mid-March with symptoms of coronavirus, the couple followed all of the government advice.

After around four to five days Kevin felt better but Laura deteriorated.

Laura’s temperature sky-rocketed to more than 40 degrees so Kevin called an ambulance. Laura wasn’t taken to hospital but paramedics stayed with her until her temperature lowered. A few days later Laura died.

Kevin, who is a crane operator in London, said: “It was horrific - I still have nightmares.

“Laura’s youngest son was in the house in his room.

“Laura hadn’t been able to get out of bed on most days, or eat, but this day she had got up and was fumbling around downstairs so I went down to check on her and it was like she was having a bad panic attack.

“She was struggling for a breath and was asking me to calm her down.

“I called 999 and got Laura a paper bag and sat with her but her breathing just got shallower and shallower.

“Her eyes went small and I could see it, she was going and then she passed.

“Paramedics came within 10 minutes and four of them worked on her for about an hour then took her away. Around 45 minutes later two of them came and knocked on the door and said ‘we are really sorry she’s gone’.”

Laura’s funeral took place on Friday in the presence of eight close family and friends.

Laura worked at Basildon and Brentwood Clinical Commissioning Group for 12 years.

More than £3,600 has been raised to help the family./

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/kevtanner