First Coronavirus death in Scotland was French rugby fan travelling to Six Nations

Elderly man with cancer fell ill at a Haymarket hotel

The Point A Hotel in Haymarket. Pic: Google

The first casualty to die from coronavirus in Scotland was a French tourist, the Evening News can reveal.

The elderly man reported feeling unwell while staying at the Point A hotel in Haymarket before being transferred to the Royal Infirmary where he died on Thursday night.

He is understood to have travelled to the Capital with his two sons to watch the Six Nations rugby clash with Scotland at Murrayfield.

A spokesman for Point A Hotels said: “Our thoughts are with the family.

"We have had robust health protection measures in place for several weeks now and we continue to follow the latest guidance provided by Scottish Government and local health professionals, putting the health and welfare of our guests and staff above all other considerations.”

Believed to be aged over 60, the patient is understood to have had an aggressive form of cancer.

He was staying at Point A for one night after travelling to watch the March 8 match between the two nations.

Chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood said: “I am saddened to report that a patient in Scotland who has tested positive for coronavirus has died in hospital.

"I offer my deepest sympathy to their friends and family at this difficult time.

"The patient, who was being treated by Lothian Health Board was an older person who had underlying health conditions.”

On Tuesday, a second person was confirmed to have died in Scotland after becoming infected with coronavirus.

The number of confirmed cases in Scotland is now 195 - a rise of 24 from Monday.

The elderly patient who died was being treated by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and had underlying health conditions.