Families share tragic WhatsApp messages amid Matt Hancock leaks

Heartbroken Britons have shared their own ‘leaked’ WhatsApp messages with loved ones who died during the coronavirus pandemic after thousands of Matt Hancock’s texts from 2020 were revealed.

The former health minister had about 100,000 of his private texts leaked last week by the ghostwriter of his Pandemic Diaries, Isabel Oakeshott.

Now, devastated families have taken to social media to speak out about the “trauma” they suffered during the same period – and many are now going viral.

Among them was a student nurse who was supposed to comfort dying strangers in hospital – but couldn’t hold her father’s hand when he died of Covid.

While one man shared the tragic last conversation he had with his mother before she was put on a ventilator and died.

Paul Quinn shared a screenshot on Twitter of his tragic final text to his dying mother, writing: “My ‘leaked’ messages from 2020. My mother worked in a care home during the pandemic, the same day I sent her that last message, she was put on a ventilator and died December 18 �� #whatsapp #matthanock #leaked’. ‘

In an exchange that has been seen nearly 150,000 times, Mr Quinn’s mother described the horrific conditions her care home endured on May 27, saying: ‘Damn another three residents died xxx

In a later post, she reveals how she contracted Covid and begs to find out if her son’s father was okay.

She said: ‘Is daddy okay? I have covid pneumonia. Pale everywhere.’

Helene Bacca described her experience as a student nurse during the pandemic – and how she was unable to comfort her father, who passed away on November 18, 2020.

She tweeted: “My dad died of Covid. I was on an internship as a student nurse in the community. I could hold other patients’ hands, but not his. He died alone in a hospital bed.’

Another user shared a similar story, revealing how their parent died just two hours after their uncle – and that only 15 people were able to make it to their funeral due to the lockdown restrictions in place.

“My father was in hospital for three months, two of which were in a coma,” they wrote on Twitter. ‘He was so bad. Then I got to see him. Not his partner, not his grandchildren. He came along and we hoped. He didn’t make it. He died 48 hours after my uncle.’

The comments come after Mr Hancock was charged with ‘despicable’ behavior after leaked reports suggested he had spoken of withholding funding for a learning disabilities center to pressure an MP not to riot against the restrictions of the coronavirus.

The ex-health secretary and an aide spoke of warning Bury North MP James Daly that a new center for disabled children and adults would be ‘off the table’ if he voted against the government, according to leaked WhatsApp messages.

Senior Conservative Jake Berry described the revelation as an ‘absolute disgrace’ and called for Mr Hancock to be taken to the House of Commons for questioning.

Sir Jake, whose son has a disability, said: ‘Once you get to the point of arming care for disabled children, I think you’ve crossed the line.’

Mr Hancock’s team said ‘what is being accused here never happened’ as they disputed the ‘entirely partial account’ based on a large number of WhatsApp messages he handed over to the Daily Telegraph.

The newspaper said the discussion between Mr Hancock and political aide Allan Nixon took place ahead of a December 1, 2020 vote on the introduction of new Covid-19 restrictions in England.

It came at a time when Whitehall was in a hurry to act as tens of thousands of lives were at stake over the winter, with all options being considered to ensure the vote was won.

Mr Nixon said they should ‘dangle our top questions’ over some of the newest MPs to enter parliament in 2019 thanks to Boris Johnson’s general election victory.

For example, Mr Nixon suggested ‘James wants his Learning Disability Hub in Bury – whips ring him up and say the health team want to work with him to make this happen, but that will be off the table if he revolts’.

“The re-election of these guys depends on us in many cases, and we know what they want. We should seriously consider using it IMO,” he wrote.

Mr. Hancock’s answer was ‘yes 100%’.

Mr Daly, a Conservative MP, told the newspaper he was “appalled” and “disgusted” that the disability hub was being discussed as a way of forcing him to vote with ministers.

But he said the threat was never made to him.

Mr Hancock’s spokesman said: ‘As we have seen this repeatedly over the past week, it is completely wrong to take this wholly partial report as fact.

“What is being charged here never happened, showing the story is false and showing why such a biased, partial approach to the evidence is a big mistake, driven by people with vested interests and an ax to sharpen.

“The right place to objectively consider everything about the pandemic is in the public inquiry.”

Rossendale and Darwen MP Sir Jake, former chairman of the Tory party, said: ‘This is an absolute disgrace.

“Hancock must be dragged to the House of Commons bar first thing in the morning to be questioned on this.”