A PATIENT who spent nearly five months in hospital battling coronavirus - including two months in a coma - is finally home.

Stuart Oakley, from Wickford, says he will never forget the horrors of last Halloween after he was admitted to the intensive care unit at Basildon Hospital.

The 55-year-old, who was self-isolating at home after testing positive for the virus, had made it two days into his isolation when he collapsed and his partner called for an ambulance.

He spent two months fighting the virus in an induced coma and has almost no memory of his fight with the virus.

When Mr Oakley woke he found that he was not only in hospital, but also in a different year after he missed both Christmas and New Year.

Now, Mr Oakley is full of praise for the team at Basildon Hospital who looked after himduring his stay.

Mr Oakley said: “When I woke up from the coma, I didn’t know where I was, but I was being supported by a fantastic team.

“I couldn’t even lift a bed sheet from me if I was hot.

“If it wasn’t for the team I wouldn’t be here today.”

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After spending two months in a coma, Mr Oakley moved to a Covid ward for a further seven weeks.

He then spent almost three weeks in Brentwood Community Hospital receiving rehabilitation to help him walk again.

Mr Oakley knows there is a long road ahead for his recovery, but thankfully is now recuperating at home with oxygen after spending four-and-a-half months fighting in hospital.

He is now urging people to use the NHS 111 service if they are feeling ill - fearing it could’ve helped him avoid his battle with Covid in hospital.

He said: “In hindsight I was feeling worse and should have phoned NHS 111.

“I could have got professional advice and might have avoided being in a coma for two months.

“I don’t like bothering people but if you are feeling ill, you should use the NHS 111 phone number.

“If I had, I may not have missed out on the time I did.

“I just want to urge people to play it safe, and call 111 - it could save your life.”