Dad says he's "proof that you can end up in a coma in intensive care and survive" coronavirus
A 43-year-old dad who spent almost three weeks in a coma in intensive care after contracting coronavirus is now back home recovering with his family.
Simon Dempsey, from Cilfynydd, near Pontypridd, he owes his life to the NHS doctors and nurses who saved him.
Staff at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital warned Simon's family that he might not survive after he was in a coma on the intensive care ward, but he was discharged three weeks later.
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board Pictures
Simon, who was diagnosed with asthma as a child, first started to feelfeverish and out of breath on Monday, April 6, and was advised by hisdoctor to remain at home in isolation for a week.
Before long, his wife Sarah Jane Dempsey, 31, also started showingsigns of the virus.
She said: "Simon couldn't breathe and was unable to walk up the stairsso I eventually called out of hours and spoke to a doctor viaFaceTime.
"They took a look at him and said he didn't need an ambulance, but 20minutes after the call had ended he really deteriorated so I called999."
On Easter Sunday, Simon was taken to a ward at the Royal GlamorganHospital, but when his condition worsened two days later the decisionwas made to admit him to intensive care.
"It was very upsetting. The day he was admitted to intensive care Iwas in hospital with it too," said Sarah.
Thankfully, following X-rays and further tests Sarah was told shecould be discharged with antibiotics and isolate herself at home.
But the same could not be said for Simon who needed to be incubatedand put in an induced coma while staff worked around the clock to savehim.
But against the odds, Simon started showing signs of progress a few weeks later and was eventually taken from intensive care and placed back on ward 6 on April 27.
And just two days later, Simon was cheered out of the hospital bythose who had cared for him.
Recalling the moment he walked out of the hospital to applause, hesaid: "It was completely overwhelming. The staff were 100% fantasticwith me, but I am so pleased to be back home."
He warned people to adhere to the lockdown restrictions.
"In all honesty, I didn't think I'd get it," he said.
"So please don't take the risk [of going out]. It's not worth it. Thiscan affect anybody."
Simon will now receive regular check-ups on his condition for the next six months.
The family are now thinking about ways they can give something back tostaff at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital.