Dad had a 20% chance of survival – staff cheered when he left their ward
LUIS IN AWE OF FIGHTBACK BY EX-LEEDS MAN ERROL
WARRINGTON’S star forward Luis Johnson admits he is awestruck by his father’s remarkable recovery from coronavirus.
The 21-year-old has spent the past seven weeks dreading every phone call in case it was bad news.
Dad Errol – a former player with Leeds, Bradford Northern and Dewsbury – was so ill he was in a coma for three weeks.
At one stage he was given only a 20 per cent chance of survival and, in total, spent almost two months hooked up to a ventilator at St James’s University Hospital in Leeds.
But on Sunday, 51-year-old Errol was given a standing ovation by nurses, doctors and hospital staff as he was wheeled out of intensive care and on to a regular ward.
Johnson said: “He really is the strongest person I know, a fighter and the true definition of a Covid-19 survivor.
“It has been so hard, especially not being allowed to go into hospital to see him. It is such a massive relief now.
“I’ve spoken to him and he can’t remember much but he’s so happy that he’s the longest person to be in intensive care at the hospital and survive.”
Nurses provided Johnson, right, and his family with a video of the emotional moment when Errol was saluted by the hospital staff as he was moved out of intensive care.
Johnson’s sister Kiana, who lives with her father, said: “They told us to expect the worst at one point, so it has been an awful time.
“I would do anything for my dad but the hardest thing was not being able to see him or see the rest of my family for support during lockdown.
“The doctors have told him they didn’t expect to see him get this far so it’s amazing that he isn’t on a ventilator or in need of oxygen any more.”
Errol, who played rugby in the late 1980s and early 1990s, had no underlying health issues before falling ill in March.
Kiana said: “Originally, he thought he had food poisoning but then he got a bit of a fever, loss of appetite and breathing problems, so I phoned for an ambulance on March 28 and he’s been in ever since.
“It depends on his strength and recovery when he can come home but the nurses say he is very determined to get well.”
Warrington’s Johnson, who is recovering from an operation on his torn hamstring, said: “We want to thank the hospital staff so much.We really appreciate what they have done for dad.”
The forward, who is facing a four-month injury lay-off, added: “The first few weeks when I was on crutches were hard.
“But for the past month I’ve been able to do plenty of rehab.”