A MAN who was in a coma and had to spend nine months in hospital after falling seriously ill with Covid-19 has now returned home. 

Abdul Saboor, 65, was admitted to the Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI) back in October, before being moved to Calderdale Royal Hospital where he was in intensive care. 

It has been a gruelling time for his family, as they have also dealt with other losses while he was in hospital.

His son, Abdul Nasir, 40, said it had been particularly difficult as his uncle Nawab Ali, Mr Saboor’s best friend, was in hospital at the same time, but sadly passed way. 

Mr Nasir said: “All of us, we were just scared. At the time, the country was in lockdown, there was so many people dying everyday. We just thought it was a matter of time.”

Because of strict visiting rules during the pandemic, Mr Saboor’s family were unable to go to the hospital to be with him and had to rely on video calls to see him. Mr Saboor came out of his coma in December and his son was finally able to see him, kitted out in full PPE.

He said: “I went to see him and that was the first time from when he was taken in. He didn’t know where he was, what was happening. When I told him, he was shocked, he thought he had been in for a couple of days.”

The West Bowling grandfather was moved back to the BRI and has had to undergo physiotherapy since then to help him regain the use of his arms and legs.

As he had been in a coma, he was also unaware that Mr Ali had died so eventually had to be told the heart-wrenching news. Tributes flooded in following the death of the respected community figure, who had been in a coma for three weeks at the BRI before his death on October 17 last year.

Mr Ali, 61, was described as a  “pillar of the community and “an example for all of us”. 

Mr Nasir said: “He helped everyone. He had a kind heart, he helped other people, he always had a smile. He didn’t have a bad bone in his body. I’ve never in my life met anyone like him.”

He was said to have dedicated his life to helping people around the world and supported many families and charities. Many tributes were left following his death, describing him as a “humble and gracious man” with a “kind-hearted soul”. 

Speaking of having to break the news to his father, Mr Nasir said: “It was very difficult, he was stunned.”

Mr Saboor returned home last week, to the delight and relief of his family, and was clapped from the hospital as has become customary.

“It was a really special moment, he was very happy,” said his son.

“We decorated the house with balloons and cards and gifts.”

Reflecting on the past nine months, he added: “In a way, it feels surreal, like a dream, in another way it’s a nightmare. We went to hell and back.” 

And sending a message out, he urged people to continue to follow the guidelines and thanked all those who had helped his father.

“We are not fully over this,” he said. 

"It can happen again, people are still passing away. We don’t want anyone else to go through this. If you can have the vaccine, take the vaccine.”