Covid-19, Omicron: James Kondilios, 23 and Christine Eross, 65, among latest tragic victims of virus

Friends of ultra-healthy world-class powerlifter, 23, who was fully-vaccinated with NO underlying health conditions beg Australians to take Covid seriously after his death – as woman dies just a DAY after testing positive

• Healthy James Kondilios, 23, died on Monday after testing positive to Covid-19
• Mr Kondilos, a champion powerlifter, had no underlying health conditions
• Friends issued heart breaking tributes, begging people to take Covid seriously
• His death comes after an Adelaide mum died one day after testing positive 

By Peter Vincent For Daily Mail Australia

Devastated friends and family of a healthy 23-year-old who died this week after being hospitalised for Covid-19 have pleaded with the public to take the virus seriously.

James Kondilios, a respected young scientist and powerlifter who lived in Canberra, was double vaccinated and had no underlying health issues, but died on Tuesday at St Vincent’s Hospital.

He was being treated there after suffering severe complications from Covid-19, leaving his loved ones in shock. 

In a heartbreaking tribute, Mr Kondilios’s friend Julia Adamcewicz said his death was a warning that ‘even the strongest and wisest can be taken from this world before their time’.

‘Yesterday was a reminder that this battle with Covid we have all been a part of for the last few years is not something to be taken lightly as even the healthiest people can be taken far too young.’ 

James Kondilios, 23, died in a Sydney hospital after testing positive to Covid-19 despite being double vaccinated and having no underlying health conditions

Mr Kondilios’s friend Julia Adamcewicz said his death from Covid-19 was a warning that ‘even the strongest and wisest can be taken from this world before their time’

James Kondilios won a national Science and Innovation award in 2019 for his work on forestry and climate change (pictured, middle with Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia  David Littleproud (left)

She remembered Mr Kondilios as a supportive friend who ‘would do anything for the people close to him’.

Mr Kondilios was a former Waverley College student who won two bronze medals at the 2015 World Power Lifting Championships in Helsinki, Finland.

‘A proud Waverley student, we hear he wore the Waverley sports shirt under his official Australian track suit for the presentation,’ the school posted on social media at the time. 

He also won a national Science and Innovation award in 2019 for his work on forestry and climate change and completed an advanced science degree at the Australian National University.

He had recently worked as a data scientist at the Department of Social Services in Canberra. 

Another grieving friend, fellow ANU student and colleague Stephen Ma, posted a tearful tribute to the ‘kind, sweet, loving’ Mr Kondilios on Facebook.

Mr Ma remembered Mr Kondilios’s last message to him said he ‘couldn’t ask for a better friend’.

‘Likewise bro, the years I spent with you will always be a great part of my life, you will always be on my mind to delight me, encourage me and guide me.’

Mr Kondilios was the youngest of six people to die with Covid in the latest reporting period.

Another tragic case was South Australian mum Christine Eross, 65, who had survived the death of her husband, David, and serious health issues.

Ms Eross had overcome several strokes and had recently gone through surgery after breaking her neck.

She died at the Royal Adelaide Hospital just one day after testing positive.

Her son Darien remembered her as loving, respectful and ‘tough as nails’.

Adelaide mum Christine Eross survived the death of her husband David, several strokes and a broken neck – but died one day after testing positive to Covid-19

Mr Kondilios was a former Waverley College student who won two bronze medals at the 2015 World Power Lifting Championships in Helsinki, Finland (pictured, James Kondilios, right, after winning one of his two bronze medals).