Double-vaccinated England fan, 39, dies of Covid after two-week battle with virus he caught while watching Euros final at Wembley
- Danny Bailey, 39, caught Covid after watching England play at Wembley in July
- The Arsenal fan, who was classed as vulnerable, died after a two week battle
- Danny, who was on immunosuppressants, had both jabs when he caught virus
An Arsenal fan who caught Covid-19 after watching England play in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley died two weeks later despite being double jabbed.
Danny Bailey, 39, from Hatfield, Hertfordshire died on Friday July 30 after a two-week battle with the virus.
The popular Arsenal fan was on immunosuppressants and was classed as vulnerable after undergoing a kidney transplant as a teenager.
His friends and family have paid tribute to him following his death, while warning others ‘to be careful’.
Danny Bailey, 39, from Hatfield died on Friday July 30 after a two week battle with Covid-19
Mike Televantou, 32, a good friend of Danny’s who met him in 2011 while supporting Arsenal, said: ‘After the transplant I think from his point of view he was always on borrowed time, everything was a bonus, so he lived life to the max.
‘You can kind of see that, he did take a risk going to Wembley (for the Euros final), he was fully vaccinated but after the transplant he had to be on immuno-suppressants and it makes you vulnerable.
‘But you could never persuade Danny not to do something he wanted to do, there were no regrets for him.
‘I would say for me personally, be aware there’s still a risk with Covid, it’s not gone away despite things opening up.
‘Be careful and take precautions because I wouldn’t want anyone to go through what we’ve been through in the last week, it’s been horrible.
‘He was taken too early, a good friend and a big personality, you don’t want to lose people like that in your life.’
Mike set up a fundraiser to help Danny’s family cover funeral costs which has already exceeded its £10,000 target in just a week.
Danny’s family have decided the excess money raised will be donated to the Lister Hospital Renal Unit who saved Danny’s life on multiple occasions as well as carrying out his transplant.
Danny, who loved animals and the zoo, caught the virus after watching England at Wembley
Friends of Danny have also been leaving touching tributes, with one reading: ‘I hope you knew how many people loved you.’
Mike said: ‘Danny for me was one of a kind, I’ve got lots of friends at football, but no-one was quite like Danny, it’s quite hard to put into words, he was just a very unique personality.
‘He was someone you’d recognise from a mile off and as soon as he sees you, even if it’s from a mile off, he’ll shout your name at the top of his lungs no matter where you are, whether it’s in a train station, pub, or library.’
He added: ‘He was just a big, big personality. No-one could really replicate what he was about or the passion he had for life.
‘He was one of those people who everyone knew, who everyone bumped into and had a story about.
‘I always knew he was popular but I don’t think I fully realised the extent until after he passed when all the comments and posts were coming in.’
Mike explained how Danny ‘wasn’t the most complicated guy’ and ‘just wanted to have fun’.
The popular Arsenal fan was on immunosuppressants and was classed as vulnerable after undergoing a kidney transplant as a teenager
He said: ‘He enjoyed doing silly things and was always up for a laugh and a joke, even just making silly faces and dressing up.
‘He did what he wanted to do and didn’t worry what other people thought.’
As well as football Danny had a real passion for animals which he pursued all over Europe.
Mike said: ‘He loved animals and going to zoos on away days, he used to sometimes get stick for going to these zoos by himself but he didn’t care because it was something he really wanted to do and he enjoyed doing it.
‘He was just a very genuine guy, what you see is what you get.’
Mike said his best memories of Danny came from his stubbornness to do what he wanted: ‘We went to all the cup finals together, spent so much time on trains and on journeys, there were a couple of silly things that he would do.
‘He had this thing where he’d try and anticipate where and when games would be before they were announced so if Arsenal got drawn in the champions league he’d try to anticipate that before anyone knew.
‘We’d tell him ‘Danny, don’t book the flights, you’re gonna end up wasting your money’ and it would always end up the flights were after the kick-off or whatever.’
‘He liked to think he was a bit of a master of travel,’ Mike added. ‘But it was all part of a laugh, he just did what he did.’
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