Former Papua New Guinea Governor dies from coronavirus in Queensland

A former governor of Papua New Guinea has died of coronavirus in Australia.

Businessman Malcolm 'Kela' Smith, 77, died in Queensland after being flown to Australia with the virus on March 28.

He spent more than a week in ICU at Redcliffe Hospital, north of Brisbane, before passing away on Monday.

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The former Australian Defence force member owned businesses including Pacific Helicopters, and set up a charity for underprivileged children in Australia, the Kela Foundation.

Papua New Guinea MP Robert Agarobe called Mr Smith, who was a UK and Australian national, "a true aviator and a legend".

In a post on Facebook, he said the pair met through their aviation businesses.

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"My aviation life with Malcolm Kela Smith was a love and hate relationship as competitors and we had our moments, however, we were best of friends who shared more then a few beers together and assisted each other in times of need when it came to work," he said.

"We both had the outmost respect for each other as brothers and aviators.

"Rest easy my friend 'till we meet again."

Prime Minister Scott Morrison expressed his condolences to Mr Smith's family.

"It's a further reminder of the very serious situation that is occurring in Papua New Guinea and the Government continues to make every effort we can to provide assistance to Papua New Guinea during this incredibly difficult time for them," Mr Morrison said.

Queensland Health said in a statement it "offers its sincere condolences to his family during this time."

Despite it being the seventh death related to COVID in Queensland, it won't be counted in the state's statistics as Mr Smith was first diagnosed in Papua New Guinea.