A Salford grandad has returned home after battling coronavirus for a week in hospital.
Retired firefighter John Blay, 68, fell ill two weeks ago. He spent seven days in bed at home before wife Lana called 111.
John, a member of the Cadishead Public Band, was rushed to Salford Royal Hospital, where he tested positive for COVID-19.
He battled for a week before returning home late Thursday (April 9). Doctors said they were content John's oxygen and blood pressure levels were back at safe levels.
Lana said John is getting stronger every day, but was advised by medics to take him straight to A&E if he has complications.
She expects him to be fully recovered within the next six weeks.
John was full of praise for Salford Royal staff - and pals from his band, who sent him their love.
He says he the first seven days in bed with a high temperature, feeling disorientated.
“I felt completely lethargic and could only walk five steps to the bathroom and back, I was so very tired," John told the Manchester Evening News.
“I didn’t eat anything for a full seven days, but I had no cough and no breathlessness.
“I kept sleeping all the time and I was having some wacky thoughts.
“I wouldn't say I felt any pain, but felt like I couldn’t talk and didn’t want to be bothered with anything or anybody.”
Lana said she was hesitant to call 111 because John had not developed a new, continuous cough - and, at that stage, had no difficulty breathing.
After seven days of worrying she decided called.
“It was scary," Lana said.
“On day seven, myself and John’s daughter were discussing what to do.
“John didn’t display any of those symptoms, but we decided we were too worried to leave it any longer.”
Paramedics picked John up five hours after Lana called.
Lana said: “John said he found it hard to breath when he was walking from our front door to the ambulance and that he almost collapsed.
“That was the most upsetting thing.
"I had to watch him stumble away from the house and only the staff in protective gear could support him.”
John was treated in an isolated section of the hospital.
The gandad-of-four is well-known in Irlam and Cadishead and has been a member of the Cadishead Public Band for almost 60 years as tuba player.
"It's a big instrument so he's got a good pair of lungs," said friendand band colleague John Dee.
"He does an awful lot for the band, he's known well throughout the district, so we were really worried about him.
