Toowoomba father Craig Genrich dies after two-month Covid battle

An estimated 26 Queenslanders died from Covid in the week leading up to February 21. Toowoomba father Craig Genrich was one of them, leaving behind a grief-stricken family. Here’s how you can help them.

An appeal has been launched for Craig William Genrich after the Toowoomba father died from complications arising from a Covid infection.

In starting the GoFundMe appeal Josephine Mulvena said her partner had been battling ill-health for several months before he contracted Covid which then put him in the Intensive Care Unit.

“He was released for only six days before he ended back in hospital only to be induced in a coma with a breathing tube to help him breathe,” she said.

“He was battling a massive blood clot in his lungs which had weakened his heart.

“Ten days he had the tube in – I didn’t even get Christmas with him due to his condition.”

Mr Genrich was in and out of hospital through January and early February.

Craig Genrich and Josephine Mulvena.

Ms Mulvena said he was last released on February 13 despite telling the doctors he didn’t want to leave.

At about 5.30pm on February 16 Mr Genrich collapsed at home, grabbing his chest and struggling to breath.

“For 10 minutes I was doing CPR on him trying to keep him with us,” Ms Mulvena said.

“By the time the ambulance got there they tried for 20 minutes but he didn’t pull through.”

Sadly, Mr Genrich passed away, leaving behind three sons and a distraught partner.

As of February 21, there were eight people in a Queensland hospital ICU with Covid, while a further 234 were in standard ward.

An estimated 26 people died from Covid in Queensland in the seven days leading up to February 21, with a total of 2760 people dying from the disease since its outbreak in 2020.

Queensland Health estimates about 92.1 per cent of Queensland’s population are fully vaccinated against Covid.

Ms Mulvena’s GoFundMe campaign raised about $1700 in ten days and remains active.

Click here to support it.