A British man aged in his 70s has died in Japan after being infected with coronavirus while in quarantine on the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

The victim, who is the first UK fatality of the global outbreak, had been receiving treatment in hospital.

His death was confirmed by the Japanese health ministry and the UK's Foreign Office, but he has not been named.

Six people from the ship have now died, with the British man, who was not a resident of the UK, being the first foreign passenger to lose their life.

He was one of at least four Britons who had to remain in Japan after dozens more, who had tested negative for COVID-19, were evacuated to the UK last week following a fortnight in isolation on the coronavirus-stricken cruise liner which docked in Yokohama on 3 February.


Image: Health officials at the scene in Yokohama

Two of the group to stay in Japan were David and Sally Abel, from Northamptonshire, who are still being treated for the virus in a Japanese hospital.

Neither of them is the person who has died.

A spokeswoman for Princess Cruises, which operates the Diamond Princess ship, said of the British death: "All of us at Princess Cruises, including the crew of Diamond Princess, offer our sincere condolences to family members and friends for their loss.

"Our dedicated care team are on hand to provide support."

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Japan and are in contact with local authorities. Our sympathies and thoughts are with his family at this difficult time."

A relative of David and Sally Abel confirmed the couple were "doing well and fighting fit", adding: "They are getting stronger every day."

A total of 705 passengers and crew out of 3,711 onboard the Diamond Princess were confirmed as having COVID-19.

The Japanese government has been criticised for the way it handled the ship's isolation, with some doctors saying it acted like an incubator.

In the UK, 20 cases have now been confirmed, including one each in Northern Ireland and Wales.

Image: David and Sally Abel remain in hospital after contracting COVID-19. Pic: David Abel/Facebook

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