Husband dies of a broken heart days after losing wife whose emotional homecoming from Doncaster hospital went viral

But today the family of doting couple David and Mary Humphreys are mourning both of them after David died of a broken heart just a few days after losing wife Mary.

Mary had been in end of life care at the DRI, but fought back against illness to make her moving return to David in the home they shared together on Finkle Street, Stainforth.

She had been ill for two years with a heart problem and diabetes, but was put in end of life care when she developed sepsis. She battled back to be reunited with former ICI electrician David in early May.

On May 21, she celebrated her 89th birthday at home with David and daughter Lynne Dunn and son in law Ray Dunn, who had moved in with them for lockdown to take care of them, while their grandchildren and great grandchildren saw them from the window.

The following day she was taken ill again and died on May 28.

David shortly afterwards suffered a hip injury, and had to go to hospital. While he was there, he caught Covid 19, but recovered.

But he died a few days later, on June 9.

Ray said: “I broke the news to him that he had the coronavirus after the hospital told us the results of his test. It was the first time he had smiled since Mary died. He said ‘Mary, I’ve got the virus – I’ll be coming with you.

“He died of a broken heart. It was what they wanted. They had talked about going on their final journey together and getting off at the same stop.”

Lynne described it as the most amazing love story ever.

The couple will be buried at a joint funeral at Stainforth Church on Friday morning.

The couple had been married for 72 years, having met as teenagers. David spent two years in Burma doing his National Service in the army, and wrote to her every week. They married on his return.

Ray said the family had been moved by the messages of support they received after Mary’s return home was publicised.

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