Man with coronavirus given 50/50 chance of survival has emotional reunion with husband after recovery

  • Report by National Correspondent Rob Osborne

Andrew and Gary were reunited after spending six weeks apart Credit: ITV Wales

A man who was seriously ill in hospital after contracting coronavirus has had an emotional reunion with his husband after recovering from the disease.

Andrew Jenkins was separated from his husband Gary Jones-Jenkins and taken to Prince of Wales Hospital in Bridgend in early April after falling ill.

Doctors at the hospital gave Andrew a 50/50 chance of survival.

''I think it's one of the worst phone calls I've ever taken.'' Gary said.

''I don't ever want to have a phone call like that ever again.''

But Andrew's condition improved and he became the first Covid-19 patient at the hospital to be discharged from ICU.

Staff at the hospital celebrated the moment by applauding Andrew as he was discharged from the unit.

ITV News spoke to Gary as Andrew was taken out of intensive care. He said, "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 said he wanted 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".

After another three weeks recovering on a ward, Andrew was able to return home on Thursday morning.

Waiting anxiously for his husband's return, Gary said: ''I'm ecstatic because it's been such a long time, but nervous.''

Then, with the arrival of an ambulance, the couple, who have been together for over 20 years, were finally reunited after six weeks apart.

It was the first time the couple have hugged in over a month Credit: ITV Wales

Andrew is still on the road to recovery from coronavirus, an experience he describes as a ''nightmare'', but the pair are thrilled to be together again.

Andrew said: ''I feel over the moon. I'm just so glad to be home.''