The hospital said I was the first person to survive being on a ventilator
Covid-19 victim told his chances were 50/50
A TAXI driver who was admitted to hospital after ringing the NHS helpline 111 woke up two weeks later to find he had narrowly survived Covid-19.
Tim Stephenson spent a fortnight in intensive care, followed by a week learning to walk again in hospital after being completely drained by the virus.
A month on, the 61-year-old still struggles to walk far, and has quit his job and gone on Universal Credit over fears of contracting coronavirus again and passing it on to his family.
Gosforth grandad Tim suffers from Type 2 diabetes, and self-isolated for two weeks in March after receiving a ‘shielding’ letter from the Government.
But he started to suffer symptoms including a cough, shortness of breath and exhaustion.
“I was getting worse and worse, I had no strength and felt really run down,” Tim said.
“I phoned 111 and they initially told me to take paracetamol.
“I gave the phone to my wife who had a few stern words with them, and they sent for an ambulance.”
Tim was taken to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary on March 24, where the last thing he remembers is having a swab taken from his mouth to test for Covid-19.
“The next thing I knew it was two weeks later,” he said.
“I had been in intensive care on a ventilator for two weeks. I just came round and had loads of tubes in me.”
The morning after Tim was admitted, the hospital phoned his wife Lesley and said I had a 50/50 chance of pulling through.
“After two weeks they tried to revive me but had to put me back on the machine as I couldn’t breath on my own.
“Another attempt was made the next day which was fortunately successful.
“After I woke up a consultant said they’d been worried about me.
“They said I was the first person to survive after being on a ventilator in the hospital.”
After being brought round from his induced coma, Tim tried to get up and immediately collapsed due to being so weakened by the virus.
He spent another week recovering on a ward, walking on a Zimmer frame and receiving oxygen.
Tim said: “I got out on Easter Saturday after three weeks. When I left the hospital, they all lined up in the corridor to clap.
“Apparently it’s the norm now, but I’d never seen it before.”
A month on, Tim says, “I still get very fatigued, I can’t walk much.
“I’ve had to give up my job and go on Universal Credit in case I pick it up again from a customer.
“I might be immune but I could still carry it. I can’t risk passing it on to my wife or my grandson.
“But I’m lucky to be alive, and I’m over the moon with the treatment I got
“I have nothing but great praise for all the staff – without them I wouldn’t be here today.”