Watch moment West Yorkshire mum reunites with son given 24 hours to live who miraculously recovered from coronavirus

Ben McCafferty, 34, was admitted to Bradford Teaching Hospitals on April 4 after displaying early symptoms of coronavirus.

Once admitted, Ben's health rapidly deteriorated and he was moved into palliative care - with his mum Di Margerison and step-dad Neil left with little hope that he would recover.

At one stage, Ben was not expected to survive for 24 hours.

However, courageous Ben defied all of the odds to walk out of the hospital on Saturday (April 18) - before an emotional reunion with his mum who had not been able to see him for more than two weeks.

Di told the Yorkshire Evening Post. "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."

Di originally stayed with Ben on the first night of his hospital stay.

Unfortunately, due to restrictions of dealing with the coronavirus the hospital had to stop visitors coming to and from the hospital.

So Ben's step-dad Neil slept on a camp bed by his side for more than two weeks, never leaving the room.

Hospital staff 'fed and watered' the pair and spirits were kept high by doctors and nurses on the end-of-life ward.

Despite the incredible care, Ben's family had to discuss palliative care and he was not expected to make a full recovery.

Ben previously suffered from meningitis as a teenager and his mum thought she may never see him again due to the latest health scare.

Di said their reunion at the entrance to the hospital left her speechless and 'so 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.

Karen Dawber, Head of Nursing at Bradford Teaching Hospitals, told the Yorkshire Evening Post that Ben was very popular in the hospital.

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 wanted to thanks Morrisons supermarket - who provided presents and a helium balloon to the hospital for Ben's leaving ceremony.

Karen 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."

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