An 80-year-old Sidcup resident has been discharged from hospital, with NHS staff giving him a "proper send off" after 28 days in intensive care with Covid-19.

Jose-Luis Fernandez tested positive for coronavirus under the care of King's College Hospital NHS FT in March, one of over 1,000 patients being treated for the virus by the trust. But the trust described his recovery as "remarkable."

The Sidcup grandfather of five was admitted into hospital on March 15, and his symptoms quickly "worsened drastically," King's College Trust said in a statement.

Two days after after arriving, Jose-Luiz was moved into intensive care.

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His daughter, Natasha Rachael Raphoz, said it was a "heart-breaking moment" when they got the call telling the family he'd been moved into IC.

"We really weren’t sure if we’d ever see him again. All we could do was prepare for the worst, but desperately keep hoping for the best.”

Jose-Luiz spent 28 days inside the unit in a worrying condition, but after a full month inside his condition began to improve and he even began to walk.

On April 28, the hospital judged he had sufficiently recovered to return home, and staff at King''s College Hospital decided to gather to applaud him and Natasha as he returned home.

In a video posted online, hospital staff are shown lining the corridors of the hospital clapping and cheering whilst an appreciative Jose-Luiz waves and claps back.

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Sarah Dheansa, the acting head of nursing for neurosciences at King's College Hospital NHS FT, said they were "thrilled to give Jose-Luiz a proper send off.

Part of the team who treated the 80-year-old, the nurse said: “We were thrilled to be able to give Jose-Luis a proper send off after making such an incredible recovery from COVID-19.

"Staff across the hospital are working round the clock in unprecedented circumstances, and I hope we can continue to celebrate more and more of these recoveries as time goes on.”

Daughter Natasha was delighted to have her father home, and said she wanted to thank those who had helped it happen.

Natasha said: “Dad’s recovery has been nothing short of miraculous. At one point, we didn’t know if he’d be able to walk or talk again, yet he’s back on his feet. So many people at King’s were instrumental in my Dad’s recovery.

"We can never thank them enough. They were absolutely incredible, they deserve so much more than a clap on a Thursday."

The newly discharged patient was able to speak to cameras as he left, and he was full of praise for those who cared for him.

Jose-Luiz said: "The people in here have been so helpful, there's so many people to thank. I'm extremely grateful.

"The most important things in my entire life are my children, grandchildren, daughter. I'm so glad I can still see them, and sit here today, speak to you and just see the world, all thanks to them."

King's College Hospital NHS FT is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching hospitals with 1.5 million patients in south London, and says so far it has successfully treated over 1,000 patients who have tested positive for Covid-19.