Chichester stalwart, 79, applauded as he leaves St Richard's after Covid-19 and coma

“I shouldn’t be here!"

He added: "Thanks to this amazing team, I will be able to celebrate my 80th birthday in a few months’ time."

On March 16, after noticing symptoms of the illness, Trevor's wife dialled 999.

He said: "I remember going in and then I don't remember much. Eventually I was put into a coma for eight days then I was in the intensive care ward for 14 days. Apparently I even took some selfies to prove it."

Trevor then spent two weeks in an induced coma in an intensive care unity before being transferred to Ashling ward, where his 'tenacity for life' is said to have inspired his care team.

"I had been lying down for so long I couldn't walk but I'm back with it. The one thing I can't do is rush around so I have got a frame to walk with and other bits of equipment.

"It didn't affect my brain in any way. Some of [the other patients] are quite badly affected.

"It was sort of like a hotel, I would recommend it. The food was great and the staff made me feel at home. The staff were fantastic. I haven't got any complaints at all.

Upon being discharged, Trevor received rousing applause from dozens of staff as he left St Richard’s on Tuesday following his recovery from Covid-19 after two months as an inpatient.

“I am missing everyone already,” he added.

And the special applause he enjoyed as he was wheeled along the corridors on his way out of the hospital is memory he will treasure forever.

“Seeing so many friendly, smiling faces clapping away as I was leaving filled me with gratitude and pride,” he said.

HCA Jessica Peters said: “Mr Tupper is an inspiration to all of us on Ashling ward. He was very seriously ill but astonishingly is now walking, talking, eating and drinking.”

Mr Tupper, who is now back with his family, wished to say a huge thank you to all the staff who looked after him and saved his life. It was a true multidisciplinary effort including the critical care team, Ashling ward team, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, dieticians, physician associates, pharmacists and the critical care outreach team.

To date, 214 patients have been discharged from our hospitals after being successfully treated for Covid-19.

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