A DAD who lost his daughter to a deadly infection and is shielding his heart transplant patient son is on the frontline fighting coronavirus.

Environmental technician Nick Sullivan is using his expertise in decontamination and sanitisation to help keep the public safe as the country moves slowly out of lockdown and guards against all the subsequent risks.

The 62-year-old businessman has lived with the tragedy of viruses and infections after his children were diagnosed with the heart condition cardiomyopathy.

Son George, who is now 27, had to undergo a transplant to save his life six years ago.

A year later Nick's daughter Maisie, also a heart transplant patient, fell ill and tragically died after contracting sepsis.

She was just 24-years-old.

Now Nick, who runs a pest control business as well as a decontamination service, is using his knowledge and playing his part in the fight against Covid-19.

Nick, who lives in Inverkip's Teal Drive with wife Liz, son George and youngest daughter Anna, 24, said: "As a family we know the importance of sanitisation, we have lived with it.

"It becomes part of your everyday life.

"It is important that the public feels safe.

"We have all been together and shielding throughout this outbreak.

"George is autistic, but he has coped with it all very well."

George was 19 when he was diagnosed with the same heart condition as his older sister.

At the age of 13 Maisie fell seriously ill and the family were devastated to be told she had the hereditary condition cardiomyopathy and would need a heart transplant.

But brave Maisie bounced back and made a full recovery.

She went on to graduate from university and moved down to London to work in marketing.

She also helped her younger brother George through his transplant.

But in November 2014 she took seriously unwell and was admitted to hospital.

Her mum Liz rushed to London to be by her side but Maisie's condition deteriorated and she died after contracting sepsis.

Following her death her family and friends held fundraisers in aid of the Golden Jubilee Hospital in her memory.

Her parents say she was a girl who lived life to the full and lit up every room she walked in to.

Nick said: "You have to find a way to get up and get on with life.

"But we miss Maisie every day."

For the last ten years Nick has run an environmental services business and now they are using World Health Organisation-controlled disinfectants to help in the fight against the pandemic.

With more businesses and shops reopening this week, Nick has been busy all over the country with his team.

He said: "We have everything in place - PPE and everything that we need to first decontaminate and then sanitise places.

"We are getting very busy and I am training up more people for my team.

"The important thing is that everyone is safe."