A STANFORD-le-Hope club is planning 'one hell of a party' for members of the NHS front line teams at Basildon and Thurrock Hospital as way of saying thank-you for the efforts to keep people alive in the face of the coronaviruns pandemic.

Of course, sadly not everyone has survived, but even so the praise for the efforts of the team at Basildon Hospital has been universal.

And thoughts from all those associated with the East Thurrock Community Association club on Corringham Road is that when this is all over, they want to say thank-you.

The club has a special reason for wanting to say thanks by inviting NHS to a free party bcause staff at Basildon save the life of one of its most popular DJs and a Corringham family man who has been dubbed a 'walking miracle' after he came through a ten day induced coma and several more days in the hospital's intensive care unit.

A long time resident on Lampits Hill, Malcolm Kitts, 62, who spends his time with his wife Tina between a home in Murcia in Spain and family in Corringham was taken ill in March and at best, doctors warned he had 50-50 chance of survival after his condition deteriorated.

He became ill very quickly while visiting his mother's home in Wickford shortly after returning to the UK from Spain. Malcolm, who is diabetic, was rushed to hospital and found he was not only fighting Covid-19, but viral pneumonia and sepsis.

Tina, also 62, says: "It was horrifying, I truly thought we were going to lose him and that I'd never see him again.

"When the ambulance took him, the hardest part was not being able to go with him and be by his side.

"He was put on Florence Nightingale but told if he stayed there he would die, so they moved him into intensive care to put him to sleep. He went down knowing he had a 50/50 chance of surviving.

"The hospital staff were wonderful and even with everything going on, his consultant still took the time to ring me in the evening to keep us updated.

"We will be eternally grateful to the hospital and ambulance staff for saving him."

Malcolm, who is currently recovering at another family member's home in Bromley, knows he is lucky to be alive, especially as the staff at Basildon dubbed him 'the walking miracle'.

He says: "I knew my chances were slim and I didn't think I'd come out of it.

"I really did fight for my family. My lungs have been damaged and doctors have said it will take about four to six months to recover.

"I'm here and lucky to be alive, I've got the strongest wife who I've been with since I was 15 and have the best family looking out for me.

I can't thank the NHS who cared for me through it all enough."

That's a sentiment shared by everyone at the East Thurrock Community Association which has launched a Just Giving page to raise funds for a post-coronavirus event when they will invite 250 members of staff to come and party.

The club has already decided to donate £1,000 towards the bar bill and will provide food and entertainment but is hoping others will chip in to support the event and have set a target of £5,000 so no guests have to dip into their pockets. Any surplus money donated will to go to local NHS charities.

Club trustee John Weeks says: "We all know how amazing the NHS have been, but it makes it even more special when you know the people they are saving.

"Malcolm is a great guy and is very popular at the club. It would have been devastating to lose him.

"One of our members, Jason Sigournay, has set up the Just Giving Page and we aim to raise £5,000 so our NHS guests can have a fantastic time.We will also be inviting members of the caring teams at local homes who have also done an amazing job.

You can donate to the fund here.

Because of lockdown no date can yet be set for the party but when it does happen Malcolm is determined to be there to host the music.

Spurs star sends message

And the mad-keen Tottenham Hotspur supporter has been helped in his recovery by a surprise message from one of his footballing heroes.

His family contacted the club and player Harry Winks. The 24-year-old responded by sending Harry a personal video message that has massively raised his spirits.

Tina said: "Malcolm's a DJ now but about 20 years ago he was a bedroom fitter and his company got a call from Glenn Hoddle, who wanted all his bedrooms fitted out.

"So the company asked Malcolm if he'd like to do the job. He was just in awe. 'Oh my God, I'm going to meet Glenn Hoddle.'

"It was the same reaction when he got Harry's video. His face was a picture. It meant the world."

And that has been confirmed by Malcolm who says: "It put such a smile on my face. The amount of love involved with it is crazy.

"I've sent it to all my Spurs fan friends and they were just amazed. Harry, that was a bit special.

"I'm smiling again now. I've played it over and over. I'm a 62yearold man! What's that all about?"