TRIBUTES have today been paid after a much-loved Greenock husband, dad and grandfather died of coronavirus.

Danny Cairns, 68, took ill on Monday and tragically passed away in Inverclyde Royal just three days later.

His grieving wife Eunice told the Tele her husband had a heart of gold and would have done anything for anyone.

Eunice, 63, a retired nurse, said: "I couldn't have had a better husband or the boys a better father."

Danny started to feel unwell on Monday night and he passed away on Thursday morning.

Eunice said: "It started with a cough and a high temperature.

"I called NHS 24 and it was a nightmare trying to get through because they were so inundated with calls.

"The paramedics came out to the house and were absolutely fantastic and I can't speak highly enough of the doctors and nurses in J North."

The couple, of James Watt Way, had been married for 43 happy years, and Eunice is in shock over Danny's death.

She said: "We had been self isolating for seven days before Danny took ill and I had underlying health conditions, so I think it anyone would have taken ill it would have been me.

"My family would bring food and leave it at the door.

"Danny was a healthy person, he was a wee bit overweight but he didn't smoke or drink and I am so shocked at how quickly it took hold - it was so out of the blue.

"It's just so unbelievable.

"People watch it on TV and think it is happening in London, Spain or Italy.

"I feel like shouting to these people, 'stay in and keep safe'."

Eunice is mum to David, 39, Graham, 38 and Daniel, 36, and as well as proud parents they also doted on their grandchildren Ewan, 12, and Hayley, 10.

Danny was brought up in Poplar Street as part of a large family and he attended Ladyburn School.

He worked in John G Kincaid's time office and later for the DWP.

Danny was also church officer at Westburn Church on Nelson Street for 12 years and only retired from this position last year.

He was also an active member of Gourock Baptist Church and look on everyone there as their family.

Eunice was brought up in Inchgreen Street in Greenock but her family moved to Wemyss Bay when she was 11 and she and Danny lived in the village until the 1990s before returning to live in Eldon Street and latterly James Watt Way.

She said: "We met on a blind date.

"My cousin set us up.

"A blind date and the rest is history.

"I couldn't have had a better husband or the boys a better father."

Together the couple set up the Wemyss Bay Bible Club and is it still going strong over 20 years later and Eunice says this is one of his legacies.

Danny also coached the Wemyss Bay Primary football team and also ran teams in the church league.

Eunice worked at Inverclyde Royal Hospital before taking early retirement.

She said: "I have never seen anything like this virus before.

"As soon as Danny was taken into hospital he was tested.

"It took 24 hours for the result came back that he was positive for coronavirus.

"My heart sank because I knew there was absolutely no way he would survive that.

"I think he would like to be remembered for the friendly, lovely guy everyone knew him to be.

"He had a heart of gold."

Eunice hopes that Danny's tragic story will make more people take the pandemic more seriously.

She said: "If they don't there are going to be more deaths."