LOVED ones of a South Lakeland coronavirus patient who died last week have paid tribute to a man who “lived life to the max”.

The man, who family have asked us not to name, was in his early 70s and lived in Field Broughton, near Cartmel.

He died at Furness General Hospital, Barrow, where, the Gazette understands, he had been admitted 10 days earlier.

His stepdaughter’s partner, a farmer in the Langdale Valley, paid tribute to him.

“He was a big part of our family,” he said.

“He was a very bubbly person. He lived life to the max.

“I don’t think he would be worried about himself passing. He would just want everyone to remember him.

“He wouldn’t want people to be down. He would want everyone to carry on.”

He added “He came to the farm all the time. Sat in the garden. He’d have a glass of wine - he loved his wine.

“He wasn’t, like I say, an ‘old person.’”

His stepdaughter said: “He was an active member of the community. He was a healthy, active man.

“Out and about every day. He wasn’t a frail little old man who was really poorly.”

She implored people to stay away from Cumbria, saying it was like “like a bank holiday” at the weekend with high numbers of tourists visiting the county.

“I just don’t think they’re treating it seriously and, until it touches a member of your family, people don’t feel the imminence of it,” she said.

It is understood the man, who also suffered from diabetes, had not been abroad prior to getting coronavirus, and instead was infected in the area in which he lived.

On Saturday, Aaron Cummins, chief executive of the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We can confirm that, sadly, a man has died whilst an inpatient on our Furness General Hospital site.

“The patient had tested positive for COVID-19 [coronavirus], was in their 70s and had underlying health conditions.

“Our thoughts and condolences remain with the patient’s family and loved ones.”