War veteran and coronavirus survivor, 99, applauded as he leaves hospital

'When I get home I’m going to tell all of my neighbours how marvellous the nurses are here,' says Albert Chambers

The departure of a 99-year-old former prisoner of war from hospital after he recovered from coronavirus has been celebrated with cheers and applause.

Albert Chambers, who was a Coldstream Guard in the Second World War, was declared “fit and well” upon his discharge from Tickhill Road Hospital in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.

The soon-to-be centenarian was admitted to Doncaster Royal Infirmary after he broke his arm in a fall, but began showing coronavirus symptoms after he was moved to Tickhill Road for rehabilitation.

In a video shared by NHS England, Mr Chambers thanks the nurses who looked after him during his time in recovery and was seen being wheeled out of the hospital as NHS staff clapped him out.

During his time as a guardsman, Mr Chambers once helped protect Buckingham Palace. But he sustained a leg injury in Germany and spent three years in a prisoner of war camp, said the hospital.

He said: “When I get home I’m going to tell all of my neighbours how marvellous the nurses are here. I want to say ‘thank you very much’ to them. I appreciate every bit of what they have done for me. They couldn’t have been any better.”

Mr Chambers’ grandson, Stephen Gater, said: “My grandad is amazing. He’s pretty incredible. He’s not only survived the war and being in prison camp, now he’s won the battle with coronavirus.”

Paige Lax, a nurse who helped look after Mr Chambers, said: “Albert has been a wonderful patient. He’s fought to get better. He wanted to get back home. He’s pretty amazing.”

Earlier this week, another centenarian recovered from Covid-19 – 101-year-old Keith Watson of Worcestershire had been treated for the virus for two weeks, and was discharged from Alexandra Hospital in Redditch on Thursday.

Mr Watson had also gone into hospital for surgery initially, but later tested positive for coronavirus after showing symptoms.