Coronavirus: Dubai resident 'dies of Covid-19' after travelling home to Scotland to celebrate birthday

Father-of-two, who had asthma, died in a hotel apartment in Glasgow

Dubai resident Ryan Storrie is believed to have died from coronavirus while visiting friends and family back home in Scotland. Courtesy: The Storrie family

A Dubai resident died of a suspected case of Covid-19 after he travelled to home to celebrate his 40th birthday.

Ryan Storrie, from Ardrossan in Ayrshire, Scotland, became unwell after travelling abroad and was unable to return to Dubai due to travel restrictions.

The father-of-two was a fan of Rangers football club and had attended their home game in Glasgow against German side Bayer Leverkusen on March 12.

Storrie, who moved to the UAE in 2017 and worked as an HR director, was staying in a hotel suite with his wife and children when he came down with a fever, the Scottish Sun reported.

He isolated himself in a separate room, to protect his family from contracting the virus, and took paracetamol. When his condition worsened a few days later, his wife, Hilary, called the National Health Service, who said they should keep him isolated. The NHS advises that people with symptoms or living with someone who has a fever, cough or shortness of breath not leave their homes for at least seven days.

Hospitals are only admitting critical cases due to a lack of beds. More than 2,900 people have died of coronavirus in the UK, where 34,173 cases have been reported.

Storrie's condition deteriorated quickly and he died in his room on March 31, weeks after celebrating his birthday with family and friends. Hilary and their two sons are currently self-isolating for 14 days.

Close friend Alan Dearie, chairman of the Dubai Loyal Rangers supporters club, which Storrie was a member of, paid tribute to him this week.

"He was such a nice man and would always come to watch the Rangers games with his wife Hilary and two sons Aaron and Andrew," he told The National.

“He was well-liked by everyone and was always by his family’s side.

“It’s just devastating this has happened to such a good friend.”

A tribute was also paid to Storrie on the Dubai Loyal Rangers supporters club website.

“It is with deepest regret that we have to announce the passing of one of our members, Ryan Storrie, understood to be due to a suspected case of Covid-19,” read the tribute.

“Ryan was a very active member of Dubai Loyal for many years and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

“Our thoughts are with his wife Hilary and his two sons Aaron and Andrew at this trying time.”