'The Covid Survivors Group': Four survivors who became friends after meeting at Cheltenham General Hospital
Four survivors of Covid-19 who met whilst fighting for their lives at Cheltenham General Hospital have formed a group to support each other and share their experiences.
Geoff Beadnell, Debbie Clifford, Jules Annan and Dave Lewins have adopted the joke nickname: 'The Covid Survivors Group'.
The group's main purpose is to talk about their experience of fighting for their life with the virus, having gone through it together.
Geoff had been diagnosed with leukemia two months before catching the virus. At one point, Jules, who was in the bed next to him, thought that Geoff might not survive.
He told ITV News:
Part of the trauma is the unpredictable nature of the virus. Debbie recalled how she 'went downhill very fast'.
For Dave, he never thought he would find himself in the situation he did.
Geoff and Jules both attended Cheltenham Festival before testing positive for Covid-19, which is where Geoff believes he caught it while queuing at a bar.
He says behind him was a man who was 'sweating profusely' and they came 'almost face to face'.
But ultimately he says he will 'never know'.
However Jules is uncertain about where he caught the virus.
He says it could have been transmitted whilst carrying out his work as a photographer, where he has to be out and about in a variety of places.
Cheltenham Festival took place in mid March when the government guidance allowed for the event to take place.
The racecourse says that by staying open it was following the guidelines safely.
Since recovering from the virus, Dave and Jules both tried to take part in a trial to help fight it, but ultimately, due to their medical history, could not.
The group now plans to make these meetings a regular occurrence, and are encouraging other survivors. to do the same.
Watch Ken Goodwin's full report here: