THE family of a man who died with coronavirus have a matter of days to find a cherished chain which went missing from his bedside before he is buried without it.

John McNamara, from Sale, died at Wythenshawe Hospital in late October.

Admitted to the hospital on October 24 with pneumonia, John tested positive for coronavirus on October 26 and died three days later after treatment was withdrawn.

His family were allowed to see him, which is when niece Helen noticed he was trying to tell them something.

She told The Messenger: "He was agitated and putting his hand on his chest."

After leaving the hospital, Helen realised she had not seen a chain bearing John's wedding ring, as well as the wedding ring of wife Janice who died three years ago.

There was also a locket with a photograph of Janice, plus a lock of her hair.

Other family checked and confirmed the chain was missing, although it had been seen at John's bedside before. They later discovered the clothing in which he had been admitted to hospital was missing as well.

This was communicated to the matron and to the Patient Advice and Liaison Service, and then escalated to a complaint, but Helen is not impressed with the response.

She said: "We are three weeks in now and no further along with it. It's absolutely disgraceful."

The family are prepared to offer a reward for the return of the chain with 'no questions asked'.

They have until Tuesday, when John is set to be buried, before it is too late.

Helen said: "The value of the chain doesn't matter. It wouldn't matter if it was a pound or a thousand pounds.

"It's because it's his wish and it's important we try to get it back, so he can be buried with it."

The Messenger has asked Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Wythenshawe Hospital, for a comment.