UK couple married for 55 years die minutes apart

LONDON - Such was the commitment of a couple that had been married for 55 years - inseparable both in life and death.

Donald and Rosemary Dix died within minutes of each other, with neither knowing the other had passed away, reports Daily Mail.

Rosemary, 76, called an ambulance when her 85-year-old hubby Donald - a former steel worker who had been suffering from flu - suddenly collapsed at home.

This was to be the last time she saw him as during the short journey he lost his battle for life.

Unaware of his death, she called their children to tell them of the emergency. But right after she delivered the news, Rosemary collapsed and died.

The couple’s daughters , though were in great shock losing two parents at the same time, said it was a comfort to know that neither of their parents had to experience the trauma of grieving the death of the other.

Daughter Jacqueline said yesterday: “They didn’t know how to live without each other. It seems as if they died at the same time.

“Mum’s last words to me were, “Your father has been rushed into hospital, you should come”.

“I drove down to the hospital but on my way I tried to ring Mum to see if she had left. The line was engaged so I assumed she was on the phone to my sister. When I got to the hospital, the doctors told me that my father had passed away but that Mum wasn’t there.

“I returned to the family home and that’s when I saw my mum lying on the floor. The phone was off the receiver.”

Her sister Deryl Dix said: “My parents were inseparable. They did everything together. Now their candles have both gone out together.”

Donald and Rosemary met at a dance in the 1950s in Nottingham. Eighteen months later they were married. (ANI)