‘RIP Tom Hanks’: How a Queensland Health official averted Donald Trump Twitter disaster

Inside sources have revealed how a Queensland Health official saved Donald Trump from publicly announcing Hollywood megastar Tom Hanks had died from coronavirus while in a Gold Coast hospital. HERE’S HOW IT WENT DOWN.

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump had to be assured Hollywood icon Tom Hanks had not died in an Australian hospital after contracting the coronavirus during frantic exchanges between the White House and local health officials.

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The Courier-Mail can reveal there was rank confusion about Mr Hanks’ condition on the weekend after White House officials were informed that the two-time Oscar winner had been “discharged” from hospital.

President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing with the coronavirus task force at the White House. Picture: AP/Evan Vucci

According to sources close to the fracas, Australian-based US Embassy officials sought assurances about Mr Hanks’ health amid fears Mr Trump was preparing to announce the passing of the much-loved Forrest Gump and Castaway star to the American people on Twitter.

A Queensland Health figure had to urgently contact the Gold Coast hospital where Mr Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson had been in isolation since last week after contracting the deadly virus to ascertain the actor’s condition.

Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks while they were in the Gold Coast University Hospital after contracting coronavirus.

The Queensland authorities told the US Embassy officials that there had been a misunderstanding over what it meant that Mr Hanks had been “discharged” and informed them that the acting megastar’s condition had improved sufficiently for him to be released from hospital.

Health Minister Steven Miles last night declined to comment.

Oscar-winner Tom Hanks was discharged from Gold Coast University Hospital after he contracted coronavirus, but his wife Rita Wilson remains in isolation at the facility. Picture: AFP

However, a senior health figure compared the trans-Pacific confusion over Mr Hanks’ health to US writer Mark Twain’s famous quip about his death being “exaggerated” by a US newspaper which accidentally printed his obituary following rumours he was gravely ill in London.

“It turns out that the President nearly exaggerated Tom Hanks’ death,” the source said.

Mr Hanks, 63, who famously continues to donate coffee espresso machines to the White House press corps, thanked hospital staff on Sunday afternoon for the couple’s care.

“Thanks to the helpers,” he posted on Twitter. “Let’s take care of ourselves and each other.”

Tom Hanks posted this photo enjoying an Aussie favourite, Vegemite, after his release. Picture: Instagram/@tomhanks

His post included a stuffed Kangaroo carrying an Australian flag and two pieces of toast laden with vegemite, which sparked a viral debate about the appropriate use of the local breakfast spread.

Ms Wilson was later released and the pair remain in self quarantine at a rented Queensland home.

Mr Hanks and Ms Wilson are in Queensland to work on Baz Luhrmann’s biopic about late singer Elvis Presley.

Pre-production work on the film, in which Mr Hanks’ will play Presley’s manager Colonel Tom Parker, was halted and some of the crew forced to self-isolate after the couple’s diagnosis.

It is believed the pair contracted the virus in the US before returning to Australia.

Originally published as ‘RIP Tom Hanks’: How a Queensland Health official averted Donald Trump Twitter disaster