Married couple die within 90 minutes of each other

Relatives of a couple married for 67 years say they believe they had a telepathic connection after they died within an hour-and-a-half of each other.

Arthur and Dorothy Harding both passed away in hospital last Friday, Arthur first at 6.45am, followed by Dorothy at 8.10am.

The pair died in separate hospitals, but their granddaughter Ros Harding said Dorothy passed away after she was told that Arthur had died.

Ms Harding said: ‘We told her that he had died, and we said, “Nana, you can go”. And that’s when the life started to fall away from her.

‘We feel like there was some telepathic connection between them.’ Arthur, 91, and Dorothy, 88, from Newton Heath, married in 1950.

Dorothy initially worked in a factory and was later employed caring for the elderly.

She was a skilled machinist and enjoyed sewing and knitting items for family members.

Arthur worked as a buyer for a textiles company. After taking retirement, he continued to work in a bric-a-brac shop in Newton Heath.

Describing her grandparents, Ms Harding, from Failsworth, Oldham, said: ‘They were just lovely people. Everyone in the area knew them.

‘My nan would always be at the front door looking out for everyone. Anyone who knew them would say the same thing.’

The couple were both admitted to hospital in the New Year after falling ill, with Arthur suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and Dorothy having heart problems

The couple lived together independently until around 10 weeks ago, when Dorothy fell ill.

She was later joined by Arthur at the Acorn Lodge care home in Failsworth, where they spent their last Christmas together.

The couple were both admitted to hospital in the New Year after falling ill, with Arthur suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and Dorothy having heart problems. 

The couple leave behind two children, four grandchildren, six great grandchildrenand one great-great grandchild.