 On 15 May, 2020, Boris Johnson and his Cabinet colleagues dined on wine and cheese in his Downing Street garden. They'd rushed outside to make the most of the sun after a press conference where Matt Hancock had described the 'shared sacrifice' the British public were making during the pandemic. On the same day, just four miles away, the family of 18-year-old Ruby Fuller felt the full impact of that 'shared sacrifice', as their beloved daughter's life ebbed away at home in Herne Hill, South London. Her mum, dad and sister were by her side as she passed away, but Ruby had been forced to say goodbye to her wider family – including her grandparents – and friends on Zoom as she was determined not to put anyone at risk by breaking lockdown restrictions. 'Ruby knew she was going to die,' her mum Emma tells Metro. 'Three weeks and one day after we were told her cancer had come back, she was gone. It came back with astonishing aggression and power. 'Her friends, cousins and grandparents had all been desperate to say goodbye before she died. 'I told Ruby 'your situation is special. I think if we asked, people would be happy to break the rules to see you.' Ruby with her cat Pacifica at home in May 2020, a week before she died (Picture: Emma Jones) Much of Channel 4's Partygate content is based on the Sue Gray report which investigated each illegal gathering (Picture: PA) 'But the number of Covid deaths were rising at an alarming rate. The order to stay at home put the fear of God into us. 'Ruby wouldn't break the rules and put anyone at risk. At one point she kind of laughed about it and said 'Imagine I took my grandparents out with me, that would be awful. No, we have to follow the rules. I'll speak to them on Zoom.' Ruby's farewells were issued over a small screen to her friends and family – she didn't hug them goodbye or dare hold a socia){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
On 15 May, 2020, Boris Johnson and his Cabinet colleagues dined on wine and cheese in his Downing Street garden.
They’d rushed outside to make the most of the sun after a press conference where Matt Hancock had described the ‘shared sacrifice’ the British public were making during the pandemic.
On the same day, just four miles away, the family of 18-year-old Ruby Fuller felt the full impact of that “shared sacrifice”, as their beloved daughter’s life ebbed away at home in Herne Hill, South London.
Her mum, dad and sister were by her side as she passed away, but Ruby had been forced to say goodbye to her wider family – including her grandparents – and friends on Zoom as she was determined not to put anyone at risk by breaking lockdown restrictions.