"She told us she wasn't afraid to die, that she was ready." A woman who watched her mother die next to her in hospital after they both caught COVID-19 has pleaded with people to follow precautions. Maria Rico, 76, from Leicestershire, removed her oxygen mask to speak to her two daughters one final time - despite knowing this would hasten her death. Anabel Sharma described the moment as "heartbreaking" but said she was glad her mother did not die alone. She has released their final photograph to raise awareness of the virus. 'Comfort' Mrs Sharma, from Whitwick, said her mother had died about half-an-hour after her mask was taken off. "My mum asked them to take her mask off and they said, 'Once we take this off, that will be it. You won't have very long'. "She said, 'Yes, I know that but I've had enough'," said Mrs Sharma, 49. "We had about five minutes with her when she was able to speak, then she lost conscious...