'I lost a month and a half of my life': Halifax man's 'horrendous' virus ordeal

Philip Finch, 66, who lives on Victoria Road, Elland, returned home on Thursday for the first time since April 3 after being admitted to hospital due to the deadly virus.

Mr Finch who works in the audit sector, was placed on a ventilator for two weeks, given a tracheotomy to stabilise his breathing for four weeks, all whilst remaining in an induced coma in an intensive care unit.

He said: “I never found out how I caught it, but I’ve had a bad cough since early March.

“All I know is the day I went to hospital I had a white face and purple lips.

“The last thing I remember was going to hospital on April 3, and then waking up again on May 14.

“I’ve lost a month and a half of my life.”

During his ordeal, Mr Finch went between the ICU departments at Calderdale Royal and Leeds Infirmary, which the 66-year-old auditor has no recollection.

He was also told during his time in Leeds Infirmary he went into cardiac arrest, nearly losing his life.

His wife, Julie Finch, 60, said: “Before he went into hospital, Philip was working with the NHS at hopsitals including Pinderfields (Wakefield), Dewsbury hospital and Calderdale Royal, so I suspect he must have caught it during that time.

“The entire time he was in a coma was horrendous - I thought I was going to lose him.

“Doctors kept telling me his condition was critical.

“But we kept hope and the staff at Calderdale Royal were amazing throughout. People can come through this, there’s always hope.”

After being discharged from the hospital last week, Mr Finch was met with rapturous applause from frontline workers, during which he was reunited with his wife and two children, Ben, 29, and Olivia, 24.

Mr Finch is now slowly recovering at home after only recently regaining the ability to speak and walk.

“I feel very lucky to be alive after seeing the statistics of people who’ve died,” said Mr Finch. “People who don’t take this virus serious are wrong. It’ll take six months to fully recover.”