90-year-old great-grandfather cheered by NHS staff as he leaves hospital after beating coronavirus

This is the heart-warming moment a 90-year-old great-grandfather was released from hospital after beating coronavirus.

Christopher Moloney was rushed to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough on Easter Sunday and diagnosed with COVID-19.

The dad-of-seven was given intensive treatment for the virus on Ward 2 of the hospital before being discharged six days later.

Hardworking NHS staff clapped and cheered as he left the hospital to return to his home on the Netherfields estate in Middlesbrough.

His daughter Sheila Maloney, 67, said: "I was worried and frightened and scared. When I saw the video I thought look at him, he's shaking hands with the doctors, I couldn't believe it. We all laughed about it.

I'm so relieved. I'm over the moon that he can say he has had it and come through it."

Christopher previously worked as a pipe fitter for British Steel before retiring. He has 23 grandchildren as well as great-grandchildren.

Sheila, who lives in the Thorntree area of Middlesbrough, is a carer for her dad. She said that Christopher had been suffering from low blood pressure and a bleed from a burst ulcer. Sheila said that she had no idea that her dad had the virus until he was treated for it in hospital.

She said: "They looked after him well. He said 'they were marvellous to me, whatever I wanted they got me'. He said 'I can't fault them'. He's upset because the young ones are dying and he's still here. I am just glad we have got him home."

Sheila said that her dad is now making the most of being home.

She said: "He's back on his pint of Guiness. He loves a pint! He's been putting rainbows on his window. All of his grand kids have been doing pictures because they can't see him. You wouldn't believe how many people have come to the window to see him."

Debbie Christian is the lead nurse for COVID-19 support at James Cook University Hospital. She looks after patients on coronavirus wards one to four, located on the ground floor of the hospital.

Debbie, from Redcar, looked after Christopher during his treatment.

"As you know, men tend to not fair as well as the ladies. With all these kinds of things against him, he's done marvellous. From start to finish he was an absolutely lovely gentleman. He didn't look his age, I was quite surprised when I discovered he was 90. It's an awful virus, a terrible thing to actually hear and he fought all the way. He was so, so wonderful with the nurses."