Daughters of man who died of coronavirus in Cheltenham care home wish he was tested before he died

The daughters of a man who died at a care home in Cheltenham say the lack of contact he had with his family contributed towards his rapid decline.

Rod Prole, better known as 'Rodders' was 88-years-old when he died on April 16.

Rod, who had dementia, diabetes and heart disease, was not tested for Covid-19 when he was alive in the care home.

At the time testing for patients and residents in care homes was not available.

It wasn't until his body was tested at a temporary morgue in Tewkesbury that they discovered he died of coronavirus.

Two of Rod's daughters, Tina Keen and Jo Main, say they wish the care home had the capacity to test people in the weeks leading up to his death.

Rod, an avid Arsenal fan, lived in Sandfields Care Home in Cheltenham for 12 months.

His daughter Tina told ITV News her dad was lonely and it was heartbreaking the way he died.

Jo, who last saw her dad on 18 March, said he started showing symptoms 9 days before he died.

But at the time testing for patients and residents in care homes was not available.

Leading up to Rod's death at the care home, he was only able to communicate with his daughters via Skype.

Tina told ITV News she wishes she could have isolated with him to keep him company in his final days.

His daughters do not know when his funeral will be, but they say they are heartbroken only the four of them will be able to attend.

This week the government released the death figures for care homes, showing there were 532 coronavirus related deaths across the South West.

A total of 3,000 people had died from Covid-19 in care homes in England and Wales by mid-April, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The Government has now announced the rolling out of testing for staff and residents at care homes.

Care UK’s Regional Director Daniel Turner-Naylor said: