A young dad has been hit with debts after his wife gave birth to a baby girl but died a few weeks later of COVID-19.

Sebastian Betancourt’s wife Lorena died with the novel coronavirus after a month in intensive care, and the family was left with debts and costly funeral expenses.

Even worse, his salary as an airport cleaner was slashed as a result of COVID-19 putting restrictions on travel.

Lorena died on 15th July aged 26, just one month after giving birth to the couple’s second daughter.

Sebastian said: “There is nothing that can comfort this pain.”

To help cover the costs, Sebastian, who works as an airport cleaner, is raffling a new motorbike and raising money through the sale of tickets.

He explained that as well as coming to terms with the loss of his young wife, who he had been with for nine years, he also has to cover the financial burden of her expenses.

Sebastian said that he hopes the raffle will “cover the remaining expenses and burial costs that are really very substantial.”

He added: “I have two girls, a one-month-old baby and my five-year-old daughter who has tremendous strength. She is the only one who helps me go on.”

According to local media, Sebastian’s income as an airport cleaner is not enough because his salary was reduced at the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

He is asking members of the public to buy raffle tickets for the chance of winning a 0-kilometre motorbike, adding: “I don’t know how many tickets I’ve sold so far, but I know it has been a lot.

“I am very grateful to everyone who bought one and also to those who collaborated and did not want a number.”

He said that thanks to everyone’s help, he was hoping that he would now be able to cover the costs.