The husband of a British woman who died in Bali after catching coronavirus has told of their heartbreaking final goodbye and said he has “lost half of himself”.
Kimberley Finlayson – who had underlying health conditions – underwent two emergency operations before her death at the Sanglah hospital on the Indonesian island.
Speaking for the first time, her grieving husband Ken Finlayson said the couple, from near Hertford in Hertfordshire, gazed into each other’s eyes, said “I love you” and exchanged goodbyes “for a few minutes” before she died on March 11.
Mrs Finlayson, a mum-of-four and award-winning publisher, and her husband were on holiday when she became unwell and was hospitalised just days into their trip.
Mr Finlayson, who tested negative for Covid-19 and was forced to self-isolate, told the BBC: “Myself and my four children are absolutely devastated to lose the most beautiful wife and mother.
“She’s so generous, she’s so full of life, she’s so powerful, courageous, supportive of all of us. I’ve lost half of myself.
“I talked to her. She said that she loved me and we exchanged that for a few minutes and looked into one another’s eyes.”
Mrs Finalyson was the first British victim of coronavirus to be named.
The couple’s four adult children were not on the holiday with their parents.
Mr Finlayson cautioned other UK citizens when travelling overseas and urged them to “be strong” for their families in the months to come.
He said: “The lesson for the British public to realise is that if you go to these places then people really mean well but you’re giving up that level of care which we expect and you are playing Russian roulette with your lives if you become critical.
“Mistakes were being made. I don’t believe… if this had happened in Barnet Hospital, I believe our great NHS would have saved Kimberley.
“I don’t think she would have been anywhere near as critical in the first place.
“Tragically in the UK there will be many people who will suffer, I’m sure, over the months ahead. You need to be strong for your family and the memory of your loved one who died in such tragic circumstance.”
He added that there was an irony in the now-familiar phrase “underlying health issues” – referring to his wife, who had diabetes.
He said: “I don’t know many people in their 50s who haven’t received medication, haven’t had some health issues. My wife is the most incredibly generous, loving mum.”
Health authorities in Bali said Mrs Finlayson had contracted coronavirus outside the country and was Indonesia’s 25th Covid-19 patient.
They said she suffered from a number of pre-existing conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, hyperthyroidism and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
A European man, aged in his 70s, died in Bali after testing positive for Covid-19, officials announced on Saturday. Local media said he was from France and had underlying conditions, including heart disease.
The Finlaysons had stayed at the five-star Capella Ubud hotel between February 29 and March 3, the day Mrs Finlayson was treated at a private hospital for a fever, Tribun-Bali reported.
She was moved to Sanglah hospital on March 9 and died within 48 hours.
The Finlaysons co-founded FMC, a dentistry publishing and communications company based in Shenley, Hertfordshire.
Colleagues at the firm, which employs 45 people, were left devastated.
Jason Newington, a co-founder and managing director of the firm, previously told Mirror Online: “It’s been such a shock. She was a big part of the company.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for FMC said: “Kimberley Finlayson, one of the co-founders of FMC, has passed away following a short illness.
“A driving force behind the scenes of the company, Kimberley’s career was defined by a commitment to excellence that helped make FMC the UK’s biggest independent dental publisher.
“She approached the world with an infectious passion, creativity and determination that will forever be written into the fabric of the business.
“She leaves behind an organisation committed to honouring her memory.”
