Daughters pay tribute to 'football mad' dad who died of coronavirus

Shaun Brady spent six weeks on a ventilator in intensive care before his death this month

Tributes have been paid to a 'football mad' dad who died of coronavirus.

Shaun Brady, passed away on May 16, after spending six weeks on a ventilator in intensive care.

The 55-year-old, from Hindley, in Wigan, had no underlying health conditions and was 'fit and healthy' before being taken ill on April 2, according to his family.

Doctors initially thought he had pneumonia but he was soon found to be suffering from coronavirus.

As his condition took a turn for the worse on April 5, his daughters, Hannah, 24, and Tasha, 22, were told to say their goodbyes.

"That was the last time we spoke to him," Hannah said.

"He was unconscious the whole time he was in intensive care, The doctor warned us that there was not much chance of him coming off the ventilator.

"They did everything they could, but his organs eventually failed. We had about 20 minutes with him and told them to turn his oxygen off."

Mr Brady's daughters have now paid tribute to their dad, who they described as 'lovely and chatty'.

They added: "Dad would talk to anyone and would do anything for anyone with no thought as to whether it would put him out.

"He was a humble, hardworking person and put everyone else before himself.

"He was massive on charity and football was the most important thing to him.

"Dad ate, slept and breathed football. If it was on, he would always watch it.

"He loved to play and referee football. In his younger years, he helped run community football teams and was a referee for multiple Wigan Sunday leagues."

Mr Brady later set up after school football clubs for children, including at St Peters C of E Primary, in Hindley, where his daughters were pupils.

He would run the training sessions before starting his shifts as a food process worker at HJ Heinz, in Wigan.

Following Mr Brady's death, his daughters decided they wanted to raise money in his memory.

Combining their dad's two passions, they are asking people to donate to Football Beyond Borders.

The charity supports young people from disadvantaged backgrounds who are passionate about football but disengaged at school.

After reaching their initial £500 target within hours, they now hope to raise double that.

"So many people have contacted us," said Tasha. "We are getting donations from people who say they did not know dad but they had seen him around Hindley."

However, Mr Brady's daughters have also spoken of their frustration at seeing people flout lockdown restrictions.

Want more news from Wigan, Atherton or Leigh? Here's where you can find it.

We now have a dedicated Facebook page bringing you all the latest news, events and community news in and around Wigan.

To keep up to date with all that is happening in Wigan, Atherton and Leigh - and to join in the discussion - follow the page here. 

Reporter Tom George covers all things Wigan for the Manchester Evening News, you can follow him on Twitter here.

"We still see people on social media going out to gatherings," Hannah said.

"I don't think they understand that this can happen to anyone.

"There was nothing wrong with dad, but within days he had to be sedated because he could not breathe.

"If people are going to break lockdown you need to think how your family would feel planning a funeral."

Donations to the fundraising page in memory of Mr Brady can be made here.