THE grieving son of a Greenock nurse who has become Scotland's first NHS worker to die from coronavirus today paid a heartbreaking tribute to his 'totally selfless' mum.

Janice Graham — who 'brought kindness and compassion' to all — passed away in IRH three days after being transferred to intensive care when her condition deteriorated.

Her son and only child, Craig, has told of his anguish at not being able to be with his mum and how her funeral will not be the send off she deserved due to the lockdown restrictions.

Craig — a police officer from Port Glasgow — said: "I would have been there every night.

"It was very hard not to be there for her at her time of need."

Mrs Graham, 58 — popular and respected throughout the district — began self isolating on Friday March 27 after developing COVID-19 symptoms.

But she required to be admitted to Inverclyde Royal the following Monday where her fellow medics rallied to try to save her life.

Son Craig told the Telegraph: "She went into intensive care last Friday because her breathing started to get worse.

"On Monday at 6pm I got the call to say that she had passed away.

"I was absolutely shocked.

"I never expected it, I always thought that she'd get better.

"I was always positive because my mum was a fighter — everything she'd done she fought for it.

"I couldn't believe it."

Mrs Graham was gran to Craig's five-year-old daughter Arya and she also leaves behind husband George, 63, daughter-in-law Emma-Louise, 36, and sisters Margaret, Joan, Jane and Lillian.

In a moving Facebook post, Craig wrote: "My mum was there for me no matter what...I will miss everything about her..I am so proud of her and there will not be a day that goes by that I will not think about her...I love her and will miss her."

Tributes to Mrs Graham have flooded in from friends, colleagues and former colleagues.

In a statement, Louise Long, the chief officer of Inverclyde Health & Social Care Partnership, said: "Our thoughts are with Janice's loved ones at this difficult time.

"Janice was a valued team member in our district nursing and evening services team and brought kindness and compassion to patients and colleagues.

"Her bright and engaging personality, and razor sharp wit will be sorely missed.

"A memorial book will be open at Port Glasgow Health Centre to staff who wish to pay tribute to Janice.

"We are incredibly thankful to our staff for their tireless efforts during this crisis.

"We are here to support them as much as possible during this challenging time."

Craig told the Telegraph: "Mum was this fun loving, crazy person — everyone loved her, she loved telling stories.

"A really good family person, totally selfless.

"She loved doing things for people.

"She was our go-to person, if Arya needed picked up from school, or needed watched, my mum would always be there.

"She was a rock for the whole family.

"It's devastating for everyone."

Craig told how his mum 'loved' her roles as a district nurse and home support worker.

He said: "That was her dream job because she just loved helping and being around people."

Craig added: "I feel as if my mum wouldn't want me to be moping about and I've got my family to concentrate on.

"But coronavirus will always be with me.

"The way I'm looking at it is that she was unwell and she passed away, I don't like to think of her as having passed away from coronavirus.

"I just hope that we all see it through and that everyone's family is safe and well, that people abide by the rules and stay safe.

"It's an absolute shame that my mum will not get the send off she deserves because of the limited numbers allowed and the restrictions.

"It's hard to tell friends and some family that they can't go to the funeral.

"But once this is all over we'll have a memorial gathering for her."