Coronavirus: tributes paid to British dad who died after contracting Covid-19

Events manager Nigel Beaton, who lived in Dubai, died on Thursday, April 9 following complications resulting from coronavirus

Briton Nigel Beaton, a husband and father of two, died in Dubai after complications resulting from coronavirus. Beaton Family

Tributes have been paid to a British events manager in Dubai who died from complications resulting from coronavirus.

Nigel Beaton, a former managing director of the Gulf Crewing Company, died on Thursday, April 9 at a government hospital in the emirate.

He leaves behind a wife, Karen and two young daughters, three-year-old Fia and Isla, 6.

The rugby-loving Welshman, understood to have been in his early 50s, was described as a “larger than life” character, who will be missed by many.

Nothing was a problem for Nigel, he would do anything for me or any of his friends

Beaton was a stalwart of the UAE events industry and an experienced stage manager who had worked on concerts for some of the world’s biggest stars, including Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake and Kanye West.

Long-time friend Daz Jamieson, from Sussex in England, said his death brought home the severity of Covid-19.

“Nigel was a legend,” said Mr Jamieson, whose company HQ Worldwide Shows was one of the first to employ Nigel when he moved to Dubai more than 15 years ago.

“He immediately loved Dubai, and was out here a year later working full time.

A fruit vendor with his watermelons at the Abu Dhabi Fruits and Vegetables Market during the Coronavirus epidemic. Victor Besa / The National

Abu Dhabi Civil Defence and Police sterilisation drive in Mussafah. Victor Besa / The National

A vegetable vendor fixes his gloves at the Abu Dhabi Fruits and Vegetables Market during the Coronavirus epidemic. Victor Besa / The National

A key worker wears a facemask as he walks passed a brightly coloured mural in Media City, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A deserted part of JBR, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A digger does some work on an empty Jumeirah beach, this is normally a very popular spot for beach goers, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Abu Dhabi Civil Defence and Police sterilisation drive in Mussafah. Victor Besa / The National

A poster on Sheikh Zayed Road shows a family wearing facemasks tell people to Stay at home, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A man walks past fishing boats in Ajman wearing a mask amid the coronavirus crisis. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A market worker boxes up fish at Ras Al Khaimah's dock. Antonie Robertson / The National

Empty streets in RAK as residents stay home for a third week. Antonie Robertson / The National

Residents of the Northern Emirates must stay home from 8pm to 6am, but can leave home to shop for essentials outside of those times. Antonie Robertson / The National

A sign outside Dubai Parks and Resorts offers support to frontline workers. Chris Whiteoak / The National

No entry signs at the closed Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A street cleaner sanitises gutters at Marina Mall car park in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

The normally busy beaches of Abu Dhabi have been deserted in recent weeks. Victor Besa / The National

A shopper picks up essentials at Carrefour in Dubai's Ibn Battuta Mall. Dubai residents must apply for a permit to leave home. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The only vehicles on Dubai's roads are delivery trucks, bike couriers and minibuses taking essential personnel to and from work. Victor Besa / The National

The empty Al Maktoum Road near Deira Clock Tower in Dubai. It would normally be one of the city's busiest streets. Pawan Singh / The National

A 24-hour stay-home order and the disinfecting of streets has left Dubai streets mostly deserted. Pawan Singh / The National

The famous Deira Clock Tower at the heart of the city's old town. Pawan Singh / The National

The bridge to Meydan hotel and racecourse stands empty on Saturday evening. Reem Mohammed / The National

A shopkeeper waits outside his dress store in Al Ain. Chris Whiteoak / The National

An ambulance on a street in Al Ain. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A quiet street leads to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Grand mosque in Al Ain. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The empty bridge to Meydan during daytime. Reem Mohammed / The National

Dubai residents must remain indoors at all times, unless they have a permit for essential shopping. Reem Mohammed / The National

Residents queue outside a supermarket in the Muraqqabat area of Deira in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

A customer enters a pharmacy in Dubai. Pharmacies and supermarkets are the only stores allowed to remain open to the public. Pawan Singh / The National

A man rides his bike across the street in Al Ain. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A medical worker in a booth prepares to swab residents at a drive-through test centre in the Dubai suburb of Khawaneej. AFP

Dubai skyline during lockdown. Antonie Robertson / The National

A man takes a taxi after leaving the Business Bay Metro station, Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

An awareness board on Meydan road, Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

The empty Kite Beach area of Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

A healthcare worker crosses an empty street in Bur Dubai while wearing a mask amid the coronavirus outbreak. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A gentleman crosses an empty street in Oud Metha in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Men in face mask walking by nurseries in Warsan. Reem Mohammed / The National

“I remember it well as he had nowhere to stay and ended up sleeping on my balcony.

“The next day we secured another contract and he was employed immediately.”

On moving to Dubai, Beaton worked as a freelance stage manager setting up events across the UAE.

After several years managing concerts with scores of household names like Elton John, Coldplay and Metallica, he set-up the Gulf Crewing Company in 2008 providing event manpower.

“Nothing was a problem for Nigel, he would do anything for me or any of his friends,” said Mr Jamieson.

“He helped me when I was moving house and made sure I had everything I needed. He was an incredible man with a heart of gold.

“The only thing Nigel couldn’t do was whisper, we are all going to miss his bellowing voice.

“He could not talk quietly.

“Nigel did a job for us once and he was back stage thinking no-one could hear him.

“His Welsh baritone voice was echoing out across the front of stage where an important member of the royal family was giving a speech.

“Nigel was told to be quiet, but we had a great laugh about it afterwards.

“He was certainly larger than life, he was always there for me and we will all miss him dearly.”

Originally from Cardiff, Beaton was passionate about Welsh rugby.

Mr Jamison kept in constant contact while his friend was in hospital, but when Beaton stopped reading his messages he knew something was wrong.

“I knew he was in a bad way,” said Mr Jamieson, who lives in Dubai.

“I could see he was reading my messages, as I was trying to keep his spirits up.

“When he stopped reading them I feared the worst. I later found out he had sepsis and pneumonia.

“It had really got hold of him and he just ran out of fight. It was devastating.

“When something like this happens, it really hits home how serious this virus is.”

Friends around the world played a musical tribute by listening to Pink Floyd's The Great Gig in The Sky, a favourite of Beaton's, in unison on Monday evening.

Fellow Welsh national, Gail Thompson said he would be missed by many.

“Nigel was such a lovely man, very kind and a big rugby fan,” she said.

“He popped in to see me at the start of March to give me some rugby tickets for the Six Nations.

“I was shocked when his wife Karen told me what had happened just a few weeks a later.”