Amble man Eric Fender, 89, reunited with his wife after seven weeks in hospital with coronavirus

Eric Fender spent seven weeks in isolation at Alnwick Infirmary after testing positive for coronavirus.

The 89-year-old was initially admitted to the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington with a suspected cracked hip following a fall at his home in Amble in June.

It turned out this was not the case and, as he recovered, he was subsequently transferred to Wansbeck General Hospital and Alnwick Infirmary where, on admission, he tested positive for coronavirus.

“The staff there have been great but during that whole time he had no visitors and virtually no contact with his family, loved ones, nor the outside world,” explained his son, John.

Eric, who has a number of underlying health conditions, became ill with a persistent cough and high temperature.

He needed oxygen via a mask, although he was not placed on a ventilator, and was on a drip for first couple of weeks.

"We really thought it was the end for him,” said John, who now lives in Kent.

Regular coronavirus tests continued to come back positive, even when his symptoms had subsided.

After seven weeks he finally returned a negative test and is now recuperating at Dolphin View Care Home on Harbour Road in Amble ahead of his 90th birthday on August 26.

"It’s been a heck of an ordeal for him to go through,” said John.

"He’s in good hands at the nursing home and the staff there have been really good.”

His recovery was further helped when he was able to join his wife, Betty, for some time in the sunshine on Amble Pier.

The pair are celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary in October.

"It was really hard for my mother when she couldn’t visit for the best part of two months,” said John, whose brothers, Willie and Alan, also live in the south of England.

“It’s lovely that they’ve now been reunited and can now look forward to celebrating his 90th birthday and their 65th wedding anniversary."

A family reunion is also planned as soon as possible.

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