Bob was left in a coma by Covid but says he’s among the lucky ones

THERE is still a long road to recovery for Bob Morning after he emerged from a coma following a battle with Covid-19 earlier this year.

The joiner has endured a gruelling rehabilitation since he fell gravely ill after contracting the deadly virus.

But despite almost nine weeks in a coma in the intensive care ward at Ninewells Hospital, then having to learn to walk again, the 66-year-old counts himself as one of the “lucky ones”.

Bob was captured on camera by NHS Tayside staff as he left the ICU ward in a clip that was watched by thousands earlier this year, giving hope to many that the deadly virus could be overcome.

As he continues to recover at his home in Douglas he praised the doctors and nurses who saved his life during his 90-day stay in hospital.

“Although my memories of Ninewells are a bit blurred I knew I wanted to walk out that door at the other end of this,” he said.

“I am one of the lucky ones to be here. There have been many firsts since coming back out of hospital, learning to walk being one of the most significant.

“The doctors told me I could be looking at anything from a couple of months to a year to make a full recovery.

“I was having to use a wheelchair to get around; I’ve got stronger as the days and weeks have gone on thanks to the help of the physio.

“It’s very much been baby steps. I was never off my work before this so it was hard at first to take my time with my recovery.

“One of the first times I came out I literally walked to the end of the drive and had to get a wheelchair back into the house.

“Now I’m able to walk to the shops and back. I’ve also been able to get back into the car and

I reversed the car back in the driveway just to see how I got on.

“It was a great feeling just getting back behind the wheel – a few of my friends have joked they’ll be staying off the road once I’m back out.”

However the impact of the virus meant Bob recently decided to retire from local firm Intona, after almost 20 years with the company.

Having taken that decision to hang up his tool belt, the tradesman knows there is still plenty of work to be done to get his life back on track.

And his former employer has lent a hand to Bob, installing a handrail to help him get upstairs until he is physically fit enough again.

He was also presented with an engraved watch as a thank-you for his loyal service with the firm when he officially retired last month.

And his colleagues held a whip round and gave him a substantial amount of cash to spend however he chooses, which Bob revealed might go on a cruise.

Bob added: “I know when people have come and seen me they’ve begun to appreciate more the impact Covid-19 can have.

“At the start, like many, we thought this was going to be like the flu.

“The last six months have been incredibly challenging and trying.”

Bob and his wife Joyce say that, despite the challenges the pandemic has brought for everyone, a number of “positives” have also shone through.

Joyce said: “The community around Douglas, Bob’s work colleagues at Intona, and the staff at Ninewells have all been incredible.

“The staff at the hospital phoned me every day to keep me updated on his condition; it was difficult getting those calls and it was literally hope that you kept sometimes.

“I looked back at the video of him coming out of the ICU, he looked frail, he lost over four stone over the 90 days.

“He’s been able to put some of the weight back on. We’ve had to