Kimberley Finlayson, 52, died while on holiday in Bali (Picture: dentistry.co.uk)

The husband of a British woman who died after testing positive for coronavirus in Bali has said he has ‘lost half of himself’.

Kimberley Finlayson, 52, was diabetic and underwent two emergency operations in an Indonesian government hospital after falling ill during her holiday. She and her husband Ken were only able to exchange goodbyes ‘for a few minutes’ before she died on March 11.

He told the BBC: ‘Myself and my four children are absolutely devastated to lose the most beautiful wife and mother. She’s so generous, she’s so full of life, she’s so powerful, courageous, supportive of all of us. I’ve lost half of myself.



‘I talked to her. She said that she loved me and we exchanged that for a few minutes and looked into one another’s eyes.’


Ken Finlayson said he had just a few minutes to say goodbye to his wife

He believes Ms Finlayson could have been better treated in the NHS (Picture: AFP)

Mr Finlayson, who tested negative for the virus, cautioned other UK citizens when travelling overseas and urged them to ‘be strong’ for their families as the pandemic continues. He believes his wife would not have died if she had been treated by the NHS in the UK.

He said: ‘The lesson for the British public to realise is that if you go to these places then people really mean well but you’re giving up that level of care which we expect and you are playing Russian roulette with your lives if you become critical.

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‘Mistakes were being made. I don’t believe… if this had happened in Barnet Hospital, I believe our great NHS would have saved Kimberley.

‘I don’t think she would have been anywhere near as critical in the first place.’

The couple had been in Bali on holiday when she fell ill (Picture: PA)

As of today, the official death toll for the UK from coronavirus stands at 233.

Ms Finlayson, from Hertfordshire, was the founder of her own dental communications company. She is believed to have been the first British victim of coronavirus to be named.

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Her husband warned that many people in their 50s may be classed as having ‘underlying health conditions’ in the same way as his wife.

He said: ‘I don’t know many people in their 50s who haven’t received medication, haven’t had some health issues. My wife is the most incredibly generous, loving mum.’

A statement from Ms Finlayson’s colleagues said: ‘Those fortunate enough to know her will remember a whirlwind of energy and ideas – and an ability to make things happen that few can match.’

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