Portsmouth dad, 64, returns home from hospital after 42 days on a ventilator battling coronavirus

Relieved Peter Callaway left Queen Alexandra Hospital yesterday after spending 28 days in a medically-induced coma.

The 64-year-old was rushed to hospital on March 27 after falling critically ill at his home, in St George’s Road, Cosham.

Despite his family being told repeatedly he was close to death and after losing four stone in weight, determined Peter pulled through, waking at the end of April and remained on a ventilator for another 15 days.

And following a lengthy rehabilitation phase in hospital, the grandfather-of-five was finally allowed to be reunited with his family – all in time for Father’s Day on Sunday.

Speaking to The News from his back garden, an overjoyed Peter said: ‘This is the greatest Father’s Day gift I could have ever have asked for.

‘I was determined to get home for Father’s Day and to be with my family again. Nothing was going to stop me. I can’t tell you how much this means to me.’

Gas replacement project manager Peter first fell ill on March 17, while working in Slough, near London.

With his body ‘dripping with sweat’ and fearing he had coronavirus, Peter raced home to self-isolate – picking up a speeding fine in his haste.

He was admitted to hospital for the first time on March 20 but was discharged days later after his symptoms faded.

But then his health took a terrifying turn for the worse and he was left gasping for breath and unable to speak.

Worried wife Linda Callaway, 54, called the NHS non-emergency number 111 and an ambulance arrived ‘two minutes later’.

She said: ‘I was absolutely terrified. I knew he was ill but you don’t actually believe it’s going to happen to you and your family.

‘I got a call very late at night from one of the consultants who said “your husband has been placed on a ventilator, he is critically ill, we don’t know if he is going to make it through the night but we will do the best we can”.

‘He was in a coma for 27 days and at one point his kidneys started to fail and the consultant again told me to prepare for the worst. It was a nightmare.’

Hard working medics managed to save Peter’s life and eventually woke him up. But he was so weak he couldn’t move.

Speaking of the damage, Peter said: ‘I very nearly died. It’s hard to put into words what that does to you.

‘When I woke, my legs felt like swizzle sticks, they were stick-thin.

‘I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t even pick up my iPad or a newspaper. I felt that weak.

‘It’s an insidious virus. It really does rip you apart.’

At one point Peter almost broke down in despair at his withered body.

But with the support from his family, he managed to get back on his feet and stunned the care team at the hospital with his progress.

Linda added: ‘The hospital said it was going to take six weeks (of rehabilitation) before he could come home – he did it in three. It’s absolutely phenomenal.

‘That’s how determined he was to get back to us and spend Father’s Day here.’

Peter arrived home yesterday morning, cheered on by some of his children and grandchildren.

Daughter Daisy Callaway, 23, said: ‘Our dad is our hero. He is the strongest person we know. At 64 years of age, he absolutely smashed coronavirus. He is an inspiration.’

Older sister Vicky added: ‘Seeing our dad come home just felt like Christmas. It was amazing.

‘The staff at the hospital have been brilliant. We can’t thank them enough. They have saved our dad’s life.’

Peter’s family will stage a socially-distanced Father’s Day celebration in their garden on Sunday.

The keen golfer now faces about six months of physiotherapy.

In a message to others infected by Covid-19, Peter added: ‘There is light at the end of the tunnel. Don’t give up.

‘I thought I was never going to walk again. I thought I wouldn’t be able to do anything but I’m getting better. Just stay strong.’

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