A Coronavirus survivor has paid tribute to the staff at Macclesfield Hospital who saved his life and helped him in his recovery from the deadly illness.

Alvin Irvine, (72), was taken from his home in Poynton to the hospital after his symptoms worsened to the point where he struggled to catch a breath.

Alvin and his wife, Lynne, (71), told Macclesfield Nub News about their experience of the virus and the life-saving work of the hospital staff who cared for him for 17 days.

Alvin described how his symptoms started, saying: "One night I just felt a bit off. We were going to go out, but I didn't want to go out so we just watched the television. I started getting like a prickling in my throat which was the first cough that you get. It's sort of like somebody sticking needles in your throat."

Following this, Alvin began having more of a chesty cough, which has been recorded as a common symptom for Covid-19 patients.

"After that I deteriorated quite a lot. I started feeling very breathless and I just wanted to go to bed and didn't want to leave it. I was sweating one minute and I was freezing cold and I couldn't stop shaking," Alvin recounted.

The aches he suffered were so bad that Alvin thought he had pulled a muscle, but was later told it was down to how much his lungs had needed to work.

He said he "never dreamed" it would be coronavirus and initially thought it was a bad bout of the flu.

Lynne decided they should call NHS 111 to get some advice, but the call took four hours to get through. They did go to hospital but were sent home at 2am because Alvin's oxygen levels were "running okay".

Despite taking the medication prescribed at the hospital, Alvin's condition deteriorated further. "I was absolutely wrecked, if I'm honest," Alvin said.

On 29th March, Lynne rang 999 and an ambulance took Alvin to Macclesfield District and General Hospital for treatment.

Lynne said: "It was terrible. I had coronavirus as well at home, but I could breathe throughout it. I had actually bled from my throat because I'd coughed so much. I couldn't look after Alvin and I knew I couldn't, which is why I phoned the ambulance. I couldn't get upstairs."

"When they took him in, it was a relief that they'd taken him in, but the last thing he said to me was, 'I don't think I'm going to come out'. For me that was dreadful."

Lynne said they had been told by medical staff that Alvin's condition "could go either way".

Both have praised the care Alvin received by the team at the hospital. "I knew he was in good hands. I knew from the way that doctors and nurses had spoken to our daughter Nicki. We knew they were doing as much as they could for us," Lynne said.

Alvin described it as difficult being in isolation and not being able to have bedside visitors. However, he praised his care team, even describing the staff member who brought him tea and had many chats with him during his stay as a "brilliant person".

"It was a great break to be able to speak to somebody. The same goes for the person who comes to clean the room. It really brightens your day up," Alvin said.

He also dismissed any notion that the hospital food is bad, describing Macclesfield's as "spot on".

Even though he had a mobile phone with him, it was still difficult for Alvin to communicate with his wife and family due to the oxygen mask and his lack of strength, but they were able to keep in touch by text.

Lynne said: "Obviously the medical staff are so busy they can't spend much time on the phone. It's a case of, 'yes, he's had a satisfactory night and he's still on his oxygen'".

Despite the lengthy stay, Lynne said: "All of a sudden, he was coming home and we couldn't believe it. We just couldn't believe he was coming home. I just can't explain how that felt.

"I said if my car will start, I'll come and get him, because obviously I hadn't used my car for four weeks. I went to the garage and it started so I phoned Nicki, said 'I'm going, will you phone the hospital?' and that was it. Six o'clock, he came out."

Alvin has only one regret about leaving the hospital and that is not being able to go around and thank the team that cared for him for those 17 days.

He said: "I am actually going to take in loads of sweets and a card for them tomorrow, just to let them know that I do appreciate what was done for me."

Alvin's daughter, Nicki Irvine, also paid tribute to those who cared for him: "I'd like to thank the healthcare team for being so helpful and caring especially with my mum also being so poorly at home, giving me advice on how best to help her and asking after her."

She added: "Everyone I spoke to morning or night took the time to keep me updated and knowing just how busy they are this really meant a lot.

"When I brought things for dad, one nurse came out to meet me and give me an update face to face and to reassure me on his progress. So to all the healthcare team and cleaners on ward 12 I just want to say a huge thank you and to send my best wishes."

Lynne has a warning for those not following social distancing guidance: "They need to take it seriously; we were taking it seriously. I don't know how we got it because we were so careful.

"I've had a heart condition since I was in my 40's and I had pneumonia about 18 months ago. Bearing in mind I wasn't hospitalised, but coronavirus was the worst thing I've had in my life. I've been in intensive care with my heart, but this is something else."

She warned against the complacency that can come with the levelling off of deaths and hospital admissions, as coronavirus is still out there.

Lynne added: "It definitely is a killer, it really is."

Alvin summed up his experience, saying: "I had a great team looking after me, I can't knock them one bit. Everything from the food, the care, the chats. They're all there to boost you to get better and all these things put together helped me no end.

"It was a horrible experience for me, but I came through it with the help of all the team."