Coronavirus: Ruby Princess victim Des Williams a ‘fit and healthy’ grandfather

Des Williams, 85, who died at Toowoomba Hospital on Wednesday, has been remembered by his family as a gentle giant.

Passengers disembark from the Ruby Princess cruise ship at Sydney’s Circular Quay on March 19. Picture: AAP

The latest Queensland victim of a coronavirus outbreak on the now-infamous Ruby Princess cruise ship was a “fit and healthy” grandfather.

Des Williams, 85, who died at Toowoomba Hospital on Wednesday, has been remembered by his family as a gentle giant.

Des Williams with his wife, Bev.

“Des was a beautiful man who saw the best in every person and gave so much of his time to each and every one of us,” relative Jacqui Blackburn wrote on Facebook.

“The news are reporting that an elderly man passed away, but while Des was 85, he had the health and strength of a 75-year-old.

“I wish they wouldn’t say he was elderly because he was nothing like that.

“He would spend most of his days in the garden tending to his plants and his garden.

“He had a double knee reconstruction a couple of years ago and came out with no pain whatsoever. And recovered like a champion.”

Mr Williams and wife Bev were among more than 2700 passengers controversially allowed to disembark the Ruby Princess this month while coronavirus tests were pending.

At least 440 passengers have since tested positive. At least seven passengers have died: two in Tasmania; two in NSW; one in the ACT; and two in Queensland.

“Unfortunately Des was a passenger on the Ruby Princess cruise ship and contracted the coronavirus. This horrible virus got the better of him,” Ms Blackburn said.

Mr Williams and his wife were on their 11th cruise together in 23 years of marriage.

“He was a loving family man, who loved his plants and his church,” stepson Craig Blackburn told the Toowoomba Chronicle.

“You wouldn’t pick him as 85, as he was very healthy. He had a lot of life left in him.”