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Home Sittingbourne News Article
A heartbroken wife has paid tribute to her "vivacious and devoted" husband who died from coronavirus.
Stuart Charlesworth, from Bapchild, near Sittingbourne, lost his fight at Medway Maritime Hospital on Sunday, April 19 after testing positive for Covid-19.
The 45-year-old - who is not thought to have had any underlying health conditions - had been taken to hospital after having a week-long temperature and spent three weeks in its intensive care unit.
Paying tribute, his wife Emma said: "He was a devoted husband and father.
"He was the person you wanted in your squad, he would have done anything for anybody.
"He was vivacious, just genuinely one of life's good guys.
"He was very much loved and will be hugely missed by many. He has left a huge hole in many people's lives."
When asked how she thought her husband - known by many as Charlie - had contracted the virus, the 39-year-old said: "We have no idea.
"To start with, he just had a temperature. He came down with that on Mother's Day and struggled with it, on and off, for a week.
"He didn't have a cough, but he gradually went downhill. We spoke to 111 but he wasn't showing severe symptoms."
In the early hours of March 30, Stuart had what Emma described as a panic attack, so they dialled 999.
"He walked out of the house to the ambulance," she said. "They took him to Medway's A&E who took him to ICU and that's where he stayed until he died."
"He was vivacious, just genuinely one of life's good guys."
Stuart, who was the lead singer of The Lost Missiles and Off The Radar, had previously recovered from testicular cancer 18 years ago.
"He just loved life and having beaten cancer he had this philosophy that life is just too short and you just have to enjoy it," Emma said.
The couple, who have a 10-year-old daughter, Rebekah, had been married for 14 years and were together for 21.
"We cannot thank the staff at Medway hospital enough for all they did to care for Charlie and for providing support to us all during this time," Emma said.
Stuart's funeral was held at the Garden of England Crematorium, Bobbing, last Thursday.
His family has asked for donations to be made to The OddBalls Foundation, which raises awareness of testicular cancer.
They've so far raised more than £3,500. To donate, click here.
