Cal Dunham, 59, and wife Linda, 66, died holding hands on Sunday after contracting coronavirus earlier this month. The married couple from Michigan who died from the virus were both fully-vaccinated but had undisclosed underlying health conditions.
Mr and Mrs Dunham were considered high-risk to suffer complications if they contracted the virus.
Relatives said that the couple “gained their angel wings” despite the fact that they’d been taking precautions against the virus and were inoculated against it.
According to their grieving daughter Sarah Dunham, her parents became ill earlier this month during a family camping trip.
Ms Dunham told Fox17: “[My dad] called me before our family camping trip and said he wasn’t feeling good but he thinks it’s just like sinus, and [Linda] caught it and she’s like, he gave me his cold.
“The third day they woke me up and said, ‘We’ve got to go because we don’t feel well.’ So I packed them all up and they left.”
Following this, the married couple were hospitalised within days and placed on ventilators while they battled the virus.
The pair were reportedly wheeled into the same room together where they died while holding hands; Cal passed away at 11.07 am and his wife Linda followed one minute later.
Their death comes following the pair’s inoculation and the fact that their pre-existing health conditions made things even more dire.
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It is unclear whether the Grand Rapids couple had received a third booster shot to bolster their immunity against Covid.
A GoFundMe page has been launched for the family by Kendrah DeYoung who has described the late Linda Dunham as a “second mom” who was there for big milestones in her life.
In a Facebook tribute to Linda, Kendrah wrote: “She was there for me during my first heartbreak, my first speeding ticket, decorating my first house, right by my side when I chose my wedding dress, my mistress of ceremony on my wedding day”.
She added: “I’m just shattered by this incredible loss, not only for myself, but for the world! As she absolutely made the world a better place! Mom, you will be sooo missed but celebrated.”