'No one should have to die alone': Shattered granddaughter of COVID-19 victim reveals his 'frightening' last moments - and how 'some pig' is trying to PROFIT from his death
- Alf Jordan, 90, contracted COVID-19 in an aged care home and died on Friday
- Granddaughter Gabrielle Cordwell said he 'died alone' in quarantine in hospital
- The whole family cannot attend his funeral due to Victorian gathering limits
- Ms Cordell said a 'pig' was trying to profit from the death with a fundraising page
An elderly man with coronavirus 'died alone' in hospital quarantine while cut off from his loving family who desperately wanted to say goodbye.
Alf Jordan, 90, took his final breath in a Melbourne hospital on Friday after contracting the disease at Glendale Aged Care in Werribee, in the city's south-west, where 10 other cases have also been detected.
Mr Jordan's granddaughter Gabrielle Cordwell and her family were not able to properly say goodbye to him since COVID-19 patients are required isolate.
Ms Cordwell spoke about her grandfather's final moments on Sunday after being denied the chance to say her last goodbyes - and also revealed 'a pig' of a person was trying to profit from his death with a fake fundraising page.
Alf Jordan, 90, and two of his great-grandchildren. Mr Jordan died of COVID-19 on Friday and was sadly alone in his final moments as family were unable to visit him
'From Tuesday to Friday, he was alone. We knew he was alone when he died because the doctor said so. When he came back, he was dead,' Ms Cordwell told Daily Mail Australia.
'There was no-one there to comfort him if he was frightened.'
The last person who was able to visit Mr Jordan was his stepdaughter and carer Helen Webb, who is also Ms Cordwell's mother.
'Mum was able to visit him on Tuesday before he went into the ward but while she was there, his COVID-19 diagnosis came back,' Ms Cordwell said.
'She was told to leave straight away and isolate in case she had it. She's waiting for her results, so we can't even mourn with her.'
Ms Cordwell wasn't even able to call her father before he passed 'because it all happened so quickly'.
'By Sunday night, Monday morning, we still didn't think it was going to happen, we still thought we had time. But then on Tuesday, he was diagnosed,' she said.
Gabrielle Cordwell, her husband (left) and her son (right). Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Ms Cordwell said it has been 'tough' for her family since they couldn't visit their father and now can't have a funeral for him either
Ms Cordwell said her large family 'can't mourn' Mr Jordan's death since only 10 people can attend funerals in Victoria due to COVID-19 restrictions.
'There are 12 children alone so we won't be having one. It feels like we don't get to mark his life has ended,' Ms Cordwell said.
'Normally when someone dies, family can get together and celebrate their life, but we're not even allowed to visit each other.
'It's like we're moving on without moving on.'
Mr Jordan's family plan to hold a memorial for him once COVID-19 restrictions ease to allow for larger gatherings.
While the family is still mourning Mr Jordan's death, a scammer pretending to be his stepdaughter Helen set up a fake fundraising page.
Mr Jordan Fenjoys a beer at a pub. He contracted COVID-19 at Glendale Aged Care in Werribee, where nine staff members and a 85-year-old female resident have also been infected
'I was getting message from friends saying "your mum's sent me a friend request and asked me to donate to this page",' Ms Cordwell said.
'Straight away I knew it was wrong because my mum wouldn't ask for money.'
Ms Cordwell later warned her friends on Facebook, saying: 'We have not and would not ask for money from anyone! Some pig is trying to profit from his death!'
She has since reported the matter to Victoria Police and Donorbox has stopped the fundraiser.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Victoria Police for comment.
Mr Jordan contracted the disease at Glendale Aged Care in Werribee, where nine staff members and a 85-year-old female resident have also been infected.
While the family is still mourning Mr Jordan's death, an opportunistic scammer pretending to be his stepdaughter set up a fake fundraising page
Ms Cordwell later warned her friends on Facebook, saying: 'We have not and would not ask for money from anyone! Some pig is trying to profit from his death!'
He was the 107th person to die in Australia from the COVID-19 when he passed away on Friday.
Another 70-year-old man died on Saturday night in Victoria, bringing the national death toll to 108.
There are 57 Victorians in hospital with COVID-19, including 16 who remain in intensive care, Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed on Sunday morning.
Victorians living in metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire are currently in the midst of a second lockdown.
The reimposed measures in parts of the state mean people can only leave their homes for four essential purposes - groceries, daily exercise, to give or receive care and to go to school or work.
Mr Andrews implored people to follow those orders, telling the public on Sunday it was currently a 'very dangerous' situation.
'This is a dangerous time,' he said.
Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed the latest figures during a press conference on Sunday morning
Comments 0
Share what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
