Dad had to learn to walk again after Covid-19 battle

GOING HOME: Glynn Cooney is applauded by staff as he makes his emotional departure from hospital

A man in his 40s had to learn to walk again after winning his battle for life against the deadly coronavirus.

Father-of-two Glynn Cooney, 44, was so ill he had to be placed in a coma as critical care staff worked around the clock to save his life.

Now, after three long months, Mr Cooney has been discharged from hospital - to the applause of the staff who cared for him.

He is the 500th patient to be discharged from Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust - which had the first two confirmed cases in Britain in January - after being treated for the virus. To mark the milestone, Mr Cooney was presented with a bell engraved with “I survived Covid 19” by Ward 9 Sister Lisa Cunningham as he left hospital last week to join his family.

Ms Cunningham said: “We are so pleased Glynn can go home to his family again. He’s been through so much and it’s fantastic to see him back on his feet.

“I bought him the bell and had it engraved so he could ring it as he left the ward. He’s been through so much and has done so well.”

MEMENTO: The bell presented to Covid-19 survivor Glynn Cooney

Mr Cooney, who was met at hospital by wife Dianne, daughter Ellie-Jean, 15, and son Samuel, 16, will now continue his recovery at home in Sproatley.

He had been “seriously ill” when rushed to Hull Royal Infirmary’s emergency department on March 30. Tests confirmed he had the virus.

Mr Cooney was admitted to the area of Hull Royal designated to care for patients with the virus but had to be moved to the Infectious Diseases Unit at Castle Hill Hospital three days later when his condition deteriorated further.

As his condition continued to worsen - doctors “feared he might not pull through” - he was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit at Castle Hill and placed in an induced coma.

But he pulled through and, five weeks later, was well enough to be moved back to the Infectious Diseases Unit. However, after so much time in hospital, his muscles were severely weakened so he was moved to Ward 9 - the Complex Rehabilitation Unit at Castle Hill - to work with the rehabilitation team, including nursing staff, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, to rebuild his strength and learn to walk again.

CARE: Castle Hill Hospital

Ms Cunningham said: “We’d like to wish Glynn and his family all the best for the future and we wish him well in his continued recovery. Covid-19 is a dreadful disease but Glynn shows there can be a happy ending.”

Teresa Cope, the trust’s chief operating officer, paid tribute to the workforce who had contributed to the recovery of hundreds of people.

She said: “Thanks to the hard work, care and compassion of our staff, we have been able to discharge almost 500 patients diagnosed with Covid-19 from our hospitals and we wish those people well as they continue their recovery.

“We would also like to use this opportunity to appeal to the public to continue the social distancing measures which have enabled our organisation to care for those people who need us most.

“Only by following the guidelines, with every one of us playing our part, will we stand a chance of reducing the spread of the virus and saving further lives.”