Coronavirus crisis: Ray Daniels’ family issue warning to West Australians after his death from COVID-19

The family of the elderly man who died from coronavirus yesterday have issued a stark warning to West Australians.

WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson today read out a statement from the family of 73-year-old retiree Ray Daniels — the father of a serving police officer — who became the second person in the State to die from the deadly virus yesterday.

The Commissioner said Mr Daniels, who had recently travelled aboard the Celebrity Solstice cruise ship, was fit and healthy before he collapsed.

He died in Joondalup Hospital two days later.

“We as a family are completely devastated by the sudden death of our father, husband and grandfather,” the family statement said.

“He was a very fit, healthy and active man with no known underlying health issues.

“He showed no real significant signs of being unwell until he collapsed at home on Wednesday morning. He died within 48 hours.

The family said Mr Daniels’ death should serve as a warning to follow strict health advice in relation to the virus.

“Clearly this virus does not discriminate and we never believed for one second that it would take him from us,” the statement said.

“Everybody needs to take this virus seriously and follow the health advise that is being given.”

The family thanked paramedics, doctors and nurses who they said “tried everything” to save Mr Daniels’ life.

Health Minister Roger Cook said Mr Daniel’s death was a “lesson to us all” about the seriousness of the virus, which has killed two West Australians.

“It’s a salient message and lesson for us all, this disease is insidious, some people they present to be almost asymptomatic before they decline rapidly,” he said.

“The gentleman in case was in his 70s, very fit and showed no outwards signs of being symptomatic.”

Perth tourism pioneer James Kwan was the first West Australian to die from coronavirus.

The 78-year-old died in Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital after he was repatriated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.