Glasgow woman dies after care home COVID-19 outbreak - and football team mistakenly announce her brother's death

Margaret McShane was a resident in Elderslie Care Home in Paisley when she passed away.

Author: Linsey HannaPublished 17th Apr 2020
Last updated 17th Apr 2020

A Barrhead man, whose 92-year old sister died in a Paisley care home hit by a suspected coronavirus outbreak, is speaking to Clyde News following her death.

86-year old Frank McShane's sister Margaret passed away last week - she was one of 11 residents to lose their lives at Elderslie Care Home in Paisley.

Frank said: "We weren't allowed to visit for the past five or six weeks.

"She would be 92 in August - she had the two strokes so in a way there wasn't any shock about it."

The 86-year old insists residents and staff in care homes should be tested for coronavirus.

He said: "These people in the homes and the staff - they should all have been tested for this.

"Obviously the residents don't have it but it's the staff that are bringing it in and they can't help it.

"They should have given care homes in the country top priority.

"Testing should have been done early on - they had a fair warning of what was coming."

Despite losing his sister, Frank is complimentary of the staff within Elderslie.

He said: "The staff at the home she was in - they were excellent.

"Although she had two strokes and couldn't speak, she was happy and content."

However the community is now rallying round the 86-year old, following a very unfortunate twist.

His favourite football team, Arthurlie Football Club in Barrhead, mistakenly thought he had passed away - and a member of the club had written an obituary for him.

Frank explained: "I got a phone call from a friend's wife.

"It was a strange opening - she said 'hello, who's there?'

"I said 'this is Frank' and there was a silence.

"She said 'it's all round Barrhead that you've died' - she said it was on the Arthurlie website.

"I've never had as many phone calls from people phoning me and saying they were glad I wasn't dead - I didn't know I was so popular.

"The wee guy who wrote an obituary on the Arthurlie website - he was mortified when he found out it wasn't true."

However, Frank has taken it all in his stride and has seen the funny side of things.

"I just laughed it off.

"Obviously he got Margaret dying misconstrued with me and it doesn't take long to multiply and get round the town."

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