A double-vaxxed driving instructor who survived two kidney transplants has died with Covid at the age of just 43.

From his hospital bed, Fran Gorman urged people to ‘get vaccinated’ and admitted he had ‘never been so scared in all his life’.

But days later, the ‘passionate’ Aston Villa fan died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital with his devoted wife by his side.

Fran, from Birmingham, had been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, and had only recently returned to work after a year spent shielding at home.

But he was taken ill with the virus in August and admitted to hospital suffering with dehydration.

There, from his hospital bed, he tweeted his concerns to his hundreds of followers.

On August 31 he wrote: ‘If you don’t think Covid is real please unfollow me. I’ve been in hospital 5 days now and at points I’ve never been so scared in my life what this could do to me! Please get vaccinated…’

Just days later he was moved to intensive care and put onto a ventilator, before dying on September 15.

His wife, Anna, a nurse, took him to hospital on August 24 when he tested positive for Covid.

Fran was complaining of headaches and pain behind his eyes and was showing signs of dehydration.

He was given oxygen and kept on the ward for four days before being moved to intensive care.

Anna said: ‘He put up a valiant fight, but by September 6 he had to be ventilated.

‘He was on a form of dialysis and had been given lots of different antibiotics but the Covid had started to affect his other organs.

‘He had no lung capacity and two other bacterial infections and had just stopped responding to any treatment.

‘At the end it was just the life support machine keeping him going. He passed away on September 15 at 13.53pm, with me there – he wasn’t alone.’

Fran, remembered as a ‘devoted family man’, received his first kidney transplant at the age of just seven.

That lasted until he turned 21. Three years of dialysis then followed, until his brother Paul donated a kidney.

The pair spent years raising thousands of pounds for the Kidney Patient Association. Anna added: ‘Fran faced many fights throughout his life time regarding his health.

‘Not at any point did he moan or feel sorry for himself. He dealt with what was thrown his way with the upmost of dignity.’

Since having his second kidney transplant, almost 20 years ago, Fran had been otherwise healthy.

Anna added: ‘He took Covid very seriously and would get really irritated at people breaking rules because he knew he was vulnerable.

‘He 100% thought everyone should get vaccinated and he never once regretted getting the jabs himself.

‘When Covid struck he spent a year isolating, not going to work. When he did return to work as a driving instructor he wore a mask, so did his students, and the windows were always down. He knew the risks but took all the precautions.’

Anna added: ‘My heart bursts with pride when I think of the fight Fran put up.

‘I am extremely biased but I truly can say Fran was an extraordinary man. The most selfless human being you could ever meet. He was caring, fun to be around and passionate about everything he cared about.’

Fran held an Aston Villa season ticket for several years and most weekends would come home near enough having lost his voice after shouting the whole way through the match.

Anna said: ‘When the whistles blows at Trinity Road and away games, cheer a little louder on Fran’s behalf and please remember him.’

Fran’s family are now raising funds for the renal department and the ITU department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

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