TRIBUTES have been paid to a “hilarious and awe-inspiring” grandfather who died after contracting coronavirus.

Alan Varney’s grandson, Harry Tripp, has now released a series of messages pleading with people to stay at home to prevent the virus from spreading further and claiming more lives.

Alan, 77, from Portslade tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday, March 29, just days after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a UK-wide lockdown.

His family had initially hoped for the best as Alan stayed in contact with his wife of 54 years, Marian, from his hospital bed through the first stages of treatment.

But his condition later deteriorated and Alan died less than a week after it was confirmed he had contracted coronavirus.

He died on Saturday morning leaving his wife, four children and nine grandchildren, including Harry and his sister Alice, 23.

NHS volunteer Harry, 19, documented the experience from start to finish with a series of videos posted on social media.

On Saturday, he shared an emotional tribute to Alan.

He said: “My grandad sadly passed away at about 10 o’clock this morning – I knew within a couple of minutes.

“I’m heartbroken, obviously, the rest of the family are as well, and shocked. He was one of my best friends – my grandad... what a fantastic bloke.”

Harry, who lives and works in Worthing as a sales executive, described Alan as “hilarious” and an “awe-inspiring medical miracle”. Twenty five years ago his grandfather had survived catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome, a rare life-threatening condition in which widespread intravascular thrombosis can result in multi-organ failure.

Harry said: “He was going to die, and they (doctors at the Royal Sussex County Hospital) said the only way to save him was to chop his legs off from the knee down. So my grandad was a double amputee, yet he taught me how to swim.

“I don’t know how he did that, but he did, and he was a very good swimmer.”

Alan had also suffered from MRSA and survived several strokes and heart attacks.

“We thought he would pull it off one last time,” Harry said.

“But, after being moved to a ward yesterday (Friday) sadly he gave his final breath this morning.”

Harry also bravely spoke out in a video made shortly after his beloved grandad’s death, giving a powerful speech with a clear message to viewers – stay at home.

He said: “It’s frustrating to see people not abiding by it (the lockdown) and making it go on for longer.

“I guess for some people it will take something like what has happened to me, that will have to happen to them for them to realise how s*** this is. I have just lost one of my closest people today, coronavirus has left a massive hole in my family.”

He said, specifically, he wanted to encourage younger people to follow the Government’s social distancing guidelines.

Harry said: “Michael Gove said today that young people are still not getting the message and he wants to know how young people will get this message about staying in.

“(People going out) it just needs to stop.

“Hopefully the people who are not staying in will see the videos I have posted and they will see the pain and agony that I have been through this week.

“Then they will understand why you need to stay at home.”

He also urged anyone who was looking for something to do during the lockdown to join him in volunteering for the NHS, along with more than 700,000 others, to help the service cope with this unprecedented health crisis.

Harry’s candid videos have amassed thousands of views online with messages of support for the family flooding in from friends, relatives and beyond.

He said: “Rest easy Grandad, and thank you for inspiring me to always try to make a difference in society – I sure have tried my best. On Monday I start a, hopefully, short chapter volunteering for the NHS.”

He is hoping others will join him, and his words can make a real difference as the country looks to curb the spread of coronavirus.

He said: “Grandad’s passing won’t ever be for nothing.

“If it stops at least one person having to go through what my family has gone through, that is good enough for me.”

More than 5,000 people have died in the UK after contracting coronavirus.

The Government advice remains clear. Stay home, save lives.

  • The coronavirus Sussex Crisis Fund has been set up to help those affected by the pandemic. The Argus’s charity and American Express have each donated £50,000 to kick-start the appeal. Grants will usually be for up to £5,000. More information is available at www.sussexgiving. org.uk/apply. To donate visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/sussexcrisisfund