Sister of teen who died from COVID-19 says she cries herself to sleep every night
The sister of a teenager who died from COVID-19 says she cries herself to sleep every night, as she described the shock of losing her older sibling.
Jorja Halliday, 15, died last Tuesday, hours after being rushed to the Queen Alexandria Hospital in Portsmouth.
Her sister Julie, 12, says she was it was a “complete shock” how quickly her condition deteriorated.
Julie and her sister Jorja (R)
“I was told that she had a lot of back pain, and she was very, very ill. She was very pale like a ghost,” she said.
A medical team tried to save Jorja, but were unable to stabilise her racing heart.
Jorja died on the day that she was due to have her vaccine
Julie was allowed to visit the hospital to say her final goodbyes.
“We started bursting into tears. We sat down, held her hand and gave her hugs and kisses, and I gave her a matching teddy so me and and her have got matching teddies,” she said.
Jorja lived with her mother and siblings in Portsmouth
Jorja had four younger siblings and lived with her mum Tracey in Portsmouth.
It was Tracey’s fortieth birthday last week, but the planned family celebrations were cancelled.
Jorja’s death was a rare case of a child dying from COVID-19
Tracey’s sister, Lucie Atkins, says her “loving, kind and generous” niece was liked by everyone and “an amazing human being”.
Jorja was 15 years old
Lucie described the last few days as “horrendous”, for the family as they start to plan Jorja’s funeral.
“The shock has come because of how quickly everything progressed. It was out of the blue. She was fit and healthy, and I think it’s a shock that I’ll never get over.”
Her mother, Tracy, described her as a “loving girl” and “beautiful young lady”
Jorja was passionate about kick boxing and used to train three times a week.
She had recently started coaching younger members of her club, and was working towards her black belt.
Her former coach, Sohail Chowdhary, from AG Martial Arts, said she was a “role model” for the whole community.
She died on the day she was due to have her vaccine
“She was so kind and caring. She was always trying her best. She put in so much attention to helping other people which was the most impressive thing about her,” he said.
Jorja’s death is a rare case, and the risks of COVID-19 to children remain incredibly low.
Jorja was described as ‘kind and caring’ by people who knew her
Her family though feel angry when they hear parents and teenagers being blasé about the virus.
“I think a lot of people don’t release the seriousness of the issue,” Lucie Atkins said.
Jorja was the eldest of her siblings
The family hope they can reassure and remind others why the vaccine is so important.
“If we can save just one person’s life as a result of raising awareness, then Jorja’s death wouldn’t have been in vain,” Lucie added.
Weather warnings are in place for snow, wind and rain across much of the UK on New Year’s Day.
The start of 2025 will bring a “multi-hazard storm, combining severe gales, heavy rain and possibly significant snow as the rain runs into cold air,” said Sky News meteorologist Christopher England.
Pic: Met Office
The most significant snowfall on New Year’s Day will be from Donegal, across Northern Ireland and into the north of England and south of Scotland.
The wind looks strongest in the south, Mr England added, where 60mph winds are possible inland and 80mph gusts around the coasts of the Irish Sea.
The stormy weather continues on 2 January, with the Met Office issuing yellow weather warnings across England, Wales and parts of Scotland.
The UK has faced widespread disruption over the last few days, as thick fog descended.
Tens of thousands of passengers had flights delayed or cancelled, while drivers were warned about dangerous conditions with poor visibility.
Revellers are also set for a “wet and rather windy” New Year’s Eve, with the potential for a snowy Hogmanay in Scotland.
There could be some “possibly disruptive weather” on 31 December, Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said, with Scotland likely to see the worst of it.
The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for winds of up to 70mph that may cause travel disruption on New Year’s Eve.
The alert, in place from 7am until 11pm on Tuesday, covers most of Northern Ireland as well as north of York in England up to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Greenock.
The forecaster also warned that delays to transport are likely, with gusts of up to 60mph expected in most areas.
Those affected should check road conditions for driving and the latest travel information as well as preparing for in advance for potential power cuts.
A pensioner who is refusing to leave what’s being branded Britain’s loneliest housing estate has told Sky News he is facing bullying and intimidation tactics to force him out.
Nick Wisniewski’s ex-council flat in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire is set to be demolished because the local authority wants to redevelop the area, which has become a derelict eyesore.
The vast area on the outskirts of Glasgow used to have almost 1,000 properties, but slowly the bulldozers have moved in, creating huge mounds of rubble where homes once stood.
The land is overgrown, with all remaining properties boarded up – apart from the retired bank worker’s home, which demolition teams have been unable to touch as he refuses to budge.
Nick Wisniewski claims he is being bullied to leave his home
Rubble where homes on the estate once stood
‘They’ll basically need to drag me out’
The 68-year-old, whose neighbours were all rehomed in 2023, bought the flat in 2017 under the discounted right-to-buy scheme and is now mortgage-free.
He told Sky News he rejected an initial offer from North Lanarkshire Council of £35,000 plus two year’s rent as it would not be enough to buy a new place.
Contemplating a time in the future when he is forced out, he said: “By law they can smash my door down, they can come in here, manhandle me to get me out. That’s the law, and they’ll basically need to drag me out.”
Asked if he is prepared to go to that length to stop himself being removed, he said: “I am hoping it doesn’t come to that, but if it does then so be it.”
He reveals a compulsory purchase order process is now under way.
A compulsory purchase order is the legal power given to a local council to buy a property without the owner’s consent.
The legal battle will now be resolved by the Scottish government in due course.
There used to be almost a thousand properties on the estate
He said: “It’s been all intimidation, bullying, lies. They offered me £40,000 over a year ago. I thought they’d have offered me a wee bit more. I would accept, probably, £60,000.
“They had a meeting a couple of weeks ago saying that they are starting legal, which means compulsory purchase order.
Read more from Sky News:
How US abortion bans put women at risk
Inside the UK’s ‘wild west’ court system
“There’s so many stages to that and it’ll take a while for that to come in to force.”
North Lanarkshire Council told Sky News it “completely refutes” any allegations of bullying or intimidation.
A spokesman said: “We are continuing to try and engage with the remaining resident and our focus is on progressing our ambitious plans to transform this area of Gowkthrapple for the benefit of the local community.”
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports9 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway