43-year-old Francis Goncalves from Cardiff suffered the heartbreaking triple loss of his anti-vaxxer mother, father and brother all in the span of a week.
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Triple death in one week
The three family members, who were based in Portugal, reportedly shared a meal together in which they infected each other before ultimately succumbing to the virus. The three were also heavily against receiving the coronavirus vaccine claiming that it was just a scheme for the government to control its citizens. Goncalves said:
They (my family) got caught up in a lot of the anti-vaccination propaganda that's going around. It preys on people who are afraid and they fall into the trap.
Adding:
The message I want to get out is why would the government want to hurt you by giving you a vaccine? What is the purpose behind it? I've spoken to so many people who are terrified of the vaccine and it costs lives.
A grieving brother
Goncalves explains that although both his parents had underlying health issues, his 40-year-old brother was an extremely active and healthy person—making the death of his brother particularly shocking. In a statement to commemorate his brother, he said:
If he wasn't working out in the gym or running, he was going on walks. He hadn't drunk in 15 years and ate a whole foods plant-based diet. He always looked out for the best interests of people around him and he wanted to teach people. He spend time helping people and wouldn't ask for anything in return.
Goncalves is now urging people to get the vaccine to avoid any further preventable deaths from occurring as he believes that the vaccine would have been sufficient protection to save the life of his family.
