Couple, 76 and 75, who have been together for 55 years beat Covid lying side-by-side in intensive care in time to get home for start of 2021

A gravely-ill couple who have been together for 55 years were home in time to see in the New Year - after beating Covid while side-by-side in intensive care.

Lin Attew, 76, was rushed into intensive care the day after her husband Dave, 75, and was placed in a bed next to him at Warrington Hospital, Cheshire.

Mrs Attew was so ill that she was put in a medically-induced coma for a month. And the pair feared they would never leave the ICU alive.

Now after two-and-a-half months, they are both home and looking forward to 2021 - a year they thought they would never see.

Mrs Attew - dubbed a 'Covid miracle' by her consultant - said: 'It's been awful but we're getting there now. Getting home for Christmas was the main thing we were working towards.

Lin Attew, 76, and her husband Dave, 75, (both pictured) were home in time to see in the New Year after beating Covid while side-by-side in intensive care. Mrs Attew was rushed into intensive care the day after her husband - and was placed in a bed next to him at Warrington Hospital, Cheshire

Mrs Attew (above, with her husband) was so ill that she was placed in a medically-induced coma for a month. And the pair feared they would never leave the ICU alive. Now after two-and-a-half months, they are both home and looking forward to 2021 - a year they thought they would never see

'Every time the doctors came around, we would say, "Will we be home in time?" And they would answer, "We don't know yet".

'Honestly, I can't thank the doctors, nurses and carers enough. They were absolutely brilliant. I cannot fault any of them. I couldn't have managed without them.'

The couple described their experience and the worry for their family - including three children Cathy, Jane and John and five grandchildren - as 'horrendous'.

Mr Attew, who still needs oxygen, went into hospital on October 2 and his wife was in a bed by his side by the next day.

Their daughter Cathy explained the moment her father was rushed into hospital, saying: 'He couldn't catch his breath or remember anything. My mum was assessed but someone had dropped off some medication for her - and when she went to the door, she collapsed.

'When the ambulance came, her breathing had gone really bad as well. At first my dad seemed to be managing OK but I phoned later that day and they couldn't regulate his breathing.

'By the next day, he had been taken to intensive care. My mum went straight into intensive care.'

Mr Attew added: 'It was horrendous. I remember waking up in the ICU unit and they said, "We've got good news and bad news. The bad news is your wife's being admitted; the good news is she's in the bed next to you". 

'I could actually see her. But then she was put into a coma and, being in the next bed, you can hear the doctors talking. They didn't give her a good chance of getting out of this. She's done really well.'

They were separated when Mr Attew was transferred to the oxygen high dependency ward at Warrington Hospital (file image). Mr Attew said: 'The nurses were brilliant. They used to wheel me down to see her. It was the first time I'd seen her in five weeks. We had a little natter, there were a few tears'

They were separated when Mr Attew was transferred to the oxygen high dependency ward.

He feared the worst but his wife eventually improved and was taken out of the coma.

Mr Attew said: 'The nurses were brilliant. They used to wheel me down to see her. It was the first time I'd seen her in five weeks. We had a little natter, there were a few tears.

'Lin was later brought to another ward but by that time, I could walk again so the nurses would walk me down to Lin's ward nearly every day.'

Cathy said: 'It was a huge shock. It happened so fast. One minute we're having a normal conversation with them, the next they're both in intensive care.

'Just trying to figure out how they'd gone from being absolutely fine to my mum being put in a coma was unfathomable.'

The family's lifeline was calling Warrington Hospital twice a day.

She added: 'I called at 11am and 6pm every day and they were amazing. It was almost like a security blanket to be told exactly how they were and whether they were improving.'

The couple spent their 55th anniversary in hospital but feel it is a very small price to pay after their recovery and Christmas, and New Year, at home.

Mr Attew said: 'Behind each bed, you had a board which basically told you all the patient's information but, at the bottom, it had a section for the person's wish in life.

'Most of them had put to get over Covid but I'd put for my wife to live.

'For anyone who goes through a serious case of coronavirus, it will be the worst experience they've ever had.'

Their miraculous recovery has been the biggest Christmas present for their children and grandchildren Josh, 23, and Emma, 16, Eleanor, 13, Jessica, 13, and Lawrence, 10.

Mrs Attew said: 'When we got home, we had so many get well cards, neighbours knocking on the door and friends bringing food. I can't thank everybody enough. We've been overwhelmed by people's kindness.'