THE family of a Stanford-le-Hope man have told how he was cheered by doctors and nurses after winning a two month-long battle against coronavirus.

Steve Grizzle, 58, came down with symptoms of Covid-19 at the end of March and became so poorly he was admitted to Basildon & Thurrock Hospital on April 7.

His condition deteriorated rapidly and he suffered kidney failure - becoming critically ill.

His daughter, Danielle Dix, said: "They put him onto the Covid ward, and the following morning the hospital called to tell us they were putting him on a ventilator. Dad spoke to mum (Michelle) one last time and told her he loved her and that he'd fight to come back to his family.

"The palliative care doctors told us that if his heart stopped, they wouldn't be able to resuscitate - we thought he wouldn't make it."

However, he held on to life and came through. Mr Grizzle remains in hospital but has been moved to a respiratory ward to recover, after being clapped out of ICU on Tuesday by doctors and nurses.

Danielle added: "It was such an emotional moment to see everyone clapping him out of ICU, he rang the bell, waved and yelled: 'I made it!', which is something we never thought we'd see but prayed so hard for.

"It's made him so weak and he isn't able to walk yet, but his kidneys seem to be improving. Thank you to all the hospital staff that saved my dad and took exceptional care of him, you really are heroes."