A WREXHAM man who spent Christmas in hospital with coronavirus has given thanks to the staff who saved his life.

Betsi Cadwalladr University Health Board [BCUHB] is marking the anniversary of the first national lockdown with a series of videos highlighting the care that patients suffering with coronavirus have received in North Wales.

Malcolm Bagnall spent nearly nine weeks in Wrexham Maelor Hospital and needed intensive care treatment after being admitted in December 2020.

In total, he spent nine days on a ventilator during his hospital stay.

In a video message shared by BCUHB, he said: “I want to thank all the nurses, doctors and consultants that looked after me. I can’t thank you enough for saving my life and being there for me.”

Malcolm was sent home in the New Year and continues to recover at home.

The Leader:

After weeks in hospital over Christmas, Malcolm Bagnall beat coronavirus - but his recovery still continues [Images: BCUHB]

He shared how he is been taking it day by day with small goals – such as walking down the stairs without feeling breathless and making short trips to the end of his road.

He acknowledges that it will be “a long process” but adds that he’s “getting there”.

The nation was first plunged into a national lockdown on March 23, 2020, and the country has been in and out of lockdown as the battle against the coronavirus continues.

On this day, almost a year ago, Wales had a coronavirus death toll that stood at 16 people. It reported a grand total of 418 positive cases across the length of the country.

At this point, many shops and businesses that were ‘non-essential’ - as well as hospitality venues, beauty spots and schools had closed their doors to limit the spread of the virus.

Guidance at the time included the ‘Stay Local’ rule – a requirement to remain within a five-mile distance of your home address unless there was a permissible reason to go further such as key working.