Coronavirus: Twin sisters die within days of each other after contracting disease

Eleanor and Eileen Andrews, who lived together in Abercynon, south Wales, both had underlying health conditions

Twin sisters who had lived together died within days of each other after both testing positive for coronavirus, their family has said.

Eleanor and Eileen Andrews are believed to have contracted the virus at the home they shared in Abercynon, south Wales.

Both sisters, aged 66, had underlying health conditions.

Eleanor’s son Stuart Andrews said his mother was the first to show symptoms and died on 29 March, and four days later her sister passed away after being admitted to hospital.

His wife Janice said the family felt like they were living “a nightmare” after the sisters’ deaths.

“It doesn’t feel as if it’s real,” Ms Andrews told ITV.

“We feel as if we’re in a horror film or a nightmare and someone is going to wake us up.”

Mr Andrews said: “That’s what it feels like and it is starting to take its toll on us. It’s getting harder now every day.”

The sisters’ older brother, Philip, who lived in the same house, is also in hospital after testing positive for Covid-19. He suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

“They are trying to save Phillip’s life now,” Mr Andrews said. “It’s terrible. He was still up and about, he was active and then to see him go like this, you’d think he was a totally different person.”

He urged people to listen to the government advice and stay indoors.

“Just stay in, because this is the effect of people not staying in, and not listening to the government, you know. We don’t want to put people through what we are going through.”

As of Thursday evening, 7,978 deaths had been reported in the UK.