'He's my life - I can't let him die': Husband of coronavirus survivor recalls terrifying experience
The husband of a man who spent days in intensive care after contracting coronavirus says he wants people to remember that people can and do survive the disease.
Andrew Jenkins was the the first Covid-19 patient at Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend to be discharged from intensive care on April 20th.
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board shared the moment Andrew left the intensive therapy unit on social media.
Andrew's husband, Gary Jones-Jenkins, said it had been a traumatic experience but reiterated his gratitude to the NHS staff who saved his husband's life.
He said he has watched the moment Andrew was taken out of intensive care multiple times.
"I know it might sound silly or sad", Gary told ITV News, "but I watch it every night before bed. Because I can see he is well, and it makes me sleep a little bit easier to know he's on the right road. It's the closest I've got to seeing him".
Gary said it took three days for the hospital to be able to confirm Andrew had coronavirus.
"I think the worst phone-call anyone can ever have is being told your mum, your dad, your wife, your husband, your girlfriend has got a 50/50 chance of living or dying, and that's what they said".
Andrew is still in hospital but is now able to breathe on his own. After being together for more than 25 years, Gary says he is desperate for him to be able to come home.
"I've played the moment over in my head so many times", Gary said.
"I just want to hug him, hold him, kiss him. Not let him go. Chuck him in the house and not let him go. This is our world and it can just be the two of us".
"He's my life, he's my husband - I wouldn't have married him otherwise", Gary added.
"I want to spend the rest of my life with him, I need to spend the rest of my life with him.
"When you get told about this 50/50 chance, you sit there and just think: I can't let him die. I can't lose him."
Gary says he wants people to hear his positive story to combat the sadness surrounding the pandemic crisis.
"You always hear about the deaths. Very rarely do you hear about the people coming out of hospital, where people come out of intensive care, and people are getting better.
"I just need people to know that, because if it happens to your family, I just want to tell you to do what I do, keep your fingers crossed".