A coronavirus patient who spent nearly a week in intensive care said he wants people to know they "can survive this".
Father of two Andrew Hodge spent six days an induced coma and paid tribute to the medical staff who cared for him while in hospital.
The 54-year-old electrical engineer is now recovering at home in Laleham, near Staines, after being discharged on March 27.
The Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust said Mr Hodge wanted people to know that being ventilated for Covid-19 “is not game over”.
He said: “I don’t want to dilute the seriousness of it, but I want people to realise they can survive this.
“There is so much negative communication about how many people have died, as opposed to how many have survived.”
He praised the treatment and care he received during 10 days at St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey, describing the team there as “phenomenal and attentive”.
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Mr Hodge, husband to Dawn and father to Isabella, 17, and Genevieve, 11, also paid tribute to one nurse on Aspen ward at the hospital who simply held his hand for a while, the trust said.
The team at St Peter’s are “delighted” to see Mr Hodge recovering so well back at home, and wish him all the best, the trust added.
