Aston Villa boss Dean Smith opens up on heartbreak of father's death
Villa boss Dean Smith has opened up on the heartbreak of losing his father during the coronavirus pandemic.
Ron Smith died last month at the age of 79, four weeks after contracting the virus while living in a care home.
Speaking for the first time since, Smith revealed how he and other close family members had to wear full PPE kit in order to be by Ron’s side during his final moments.
He said: “He was in the care home when he contracted coronavirus but he was asymptomatic and then three days later we had a call that he had been taken to hospital by paramedics.
“Obviously it was tough for my mum because she couldn’t see him for 11 weeks.
“But he ended up coming out to a nursing home and we were allowed to go and see him in our full PPE at the moment he passed.”
Ron, a lifelong Villa fan who worked as a steward in the Trinity Road Stand and instilled the love for the club in his son, had been battling dementia for several years.
In previous interviews, Smith had spoken of the illness’ impact and the fact his dad didn’t know he was Villa manager.
Smith said: “Timing is never good to lose a parent but he is probably in a better place now because he hadn’t been well for a long time. It was one of those things you have to deal with.”
