This is the tear-jerking moment a young man with Down’s syndrome given just 24 hours to live after contracting coronavirus hugs his mum after beating the disease.
Ben McCafferty, 34, bravely battled the deadly disease for two weeks before being given the all clear and getting discharged on Saturday (Apr 18).
Brilliant footage shows Ben walking away from his ward before spotting his beaming mum, Di Margerison, waiting for him in the corridor.
The pair can then be seen moving towards each other for a heartwarming embrace.
Emotional Di said: “I didn’t think he would make it. It was the longest we had ever been apart.
“The care he received at the hospital saved his life. I couldn’t be more thankful.”
Ben was admitted to Bradford Teaching Hospitals on April 4 after displaying early symptoms of coronavirus.
His health rapidly deteriorated and he was moved into palliative care – with his mum Di Margerison and step-dad Neil, from Bradford, West Yorks., left with little hope that he would recover.
Di stayed with Ben on his first night in hospital, however, due to restrictions of dealing with the coronavirus the hospital had to stop visitors coming to and from the hospital.
Neil slept on a camp bed by his side for more than two weeks, never leaving the room.
Ben’s condition was so severe that at one stage he was given 24 hours to live but he bravely battled the disease to survive.
Di said their reunion at the entrance to the hospital left her speechless and “emotional”.
She said: “I was just overwhelmed. I had only seen him over WhatsApp and that kind of thing but I couldn’t be with him due to the restrictions.
“We just had a huge hug. I never expected it to happen.”
Ben made a huge impression on the staff at the hospital, according Bradford Teaching Hospitals’ Head of Nursing Karen Dawber.
She described his step-dad Neil as a “saint” and reiterated the fact that Ben was not expected to make a recovery and had defied all of the odds.
Karen said: “We just made him comfortable on a camp bed with his step dad. We saw him start to get better.
“He was being looked after on our end of life ward. He was laughing and joking with the nurses.
“At one point we thought he would not make it another 24 hours. When he got discharged, 50 or 60 staff greeted him on his way out.
“He was very popular and I am just glad he has made such an amazing recovery.”
Karen has urged the public to stay at home to prevent further spread of the disease.
However, she said anybody with symptoms of any illness should not be frightened to check into hospital and used Ben’s story as an example of incredible recovery.
She said: “Don’t be frightened to admit yourself to hospital if you are unwell. Please still come.
“People can still recover, Ben proves that.”