Luton man, 85, thanks staff at L&D Hospital after recovering from coronavirus

David Nixon, from the Barnfield area of Luton, was forced to spend his 65th wedding anniversary away from wife Gwendoline after being stricken down with Covid-19 in March.

Family members were first told he had pneumonia before receiving the dreaded news he had tested positive for coronavirus.

But after battling the illness in the L&D Hospital for four weeks, Mr Nixon's two children were relieved when he was finally discharged.

His daughter Bonita told Luton Today: "The horrible thing was we couldn't speak to him.

"He was delirious and he didn't know where he was, and so when we rang him he was not himself.

"It was very worrying."

Retired Mr Nixon became ill in early March, before the government had announced any lockdown restrictions.

He suffered from a fever and cold sweats for a week before he was admitted to hospital.

Bonita said: "We didn't know what was wrong. The doctor said he had an infection and in the end, we called 999 and they took him to hospital.

"When we phoned up the next day, they said he had pneumonia and they took a blood test to see if he had the virus.

"A couple of days later they phoned up and said he had coronavirus.

"The hospital was very good but they told my brother at one time that it was touch and go."

Mr Nixon is a full-time carer for wife Gwendoline, who suffers from alzheimers, and family cared for her while he was isolated in hospital.

Bonita added: "He was in the hospital for four weeks before he was discharged.

"Thankfully, he's much better now he's been home for three weeks.

"But things are obviously not back to normal yet - the bowls club is closed and he used to take the dog for a walk every day.

"Right now, he's just well enough to start walking up and down the street.

"He normally walks for about an hour a day!"

Mr Nixon has nothing but praise for the NHS and the hard workers at the L&D Hospital who aided his recovery.

He said: "I would like to say a big thank you to the L&D's nurses, doctors, carers and physiotherapists for making sure I was able to return home to my family."