Says ththanksk to NHS ‘angels’

was struggling to breathe, so we called him an ambulance. The paramedics turned up and they said they were confident it was Covid-19, so they took him straight in.

“The consultant called us at 5.30pm and said he’s in a really critical way. He said he was positive it was Covid-19 and he’s not responding to any treatment. “They said they weren’t going to ventilate him because he was past the point of that helping him. It was horrific, but they treated him with another machine.

“The consultant said ‘we’re doing everything we can but he’s in a really grave condition and if this doesn’t work there’s nothing more we can do’. “He said ‘to be frank, we need to prepare you for the worst, and he may not make it through the night’.”

Adding to the ordeal was the fact Roy’s wife, Marjorie, 80, had to self-isolate at home, so could not be comforted by family members, let alone see her husband.

“We couldn’t see him to say goodbye,” added Scarlett. “We didn’t sleep that night. It sounds bad, but we were waiting for that phone call – when you’re in that situation your whole world is turned upside down.” Fortunately, Roy – who had developed pneumonia – started to improve the following morning.

Over that weekend, his oxygen levels were reduced, and, following some remarkable progress, he was allowed home last Sunday.

Scarlett, 23, hopes his recovery will help ease the fears of elderly people with underlying health conditions.

She added: “He’s very overwhelmed by it all – within the space of five hours it completely changed. He was sitting in his lounge and the next thing he was going to die.”

Now home and recovering, Roy recorded a special video message to the medics who cared for him, saying: “I wanted to say thank you to all the staff on Medical HDU ward at Medway hospital; especially thanks to Dr Hetti and all the nurses that took such good care of me. “The fact I am 76 with lots of underlying health issues, your care and attention got me through.

“I am unable to recognise all of you because of the masks, but they are all angels and I would recognise their voices. Thank you for everything you have done and you’ll never be out of my thoughts.”