Father-of-two ‘fighting for his life’ in a coma with coronavirus wakes up 18 days later to wish his daughter a happy 21st birthday
- Phil Tynan contracted coronavirus and was put into a medically-induced coma
- After 18 days, he woke up in intensive care on daughter Lucy’s 21st birthday
- Mr Tynan, from Bristol, was initially treated for flu before his condition worsened
- His family have urged the public to take the virus social distancing seriously
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
A dad-of two who was ‘fighting for his life’ in a coma after he was struck down with coronavirus, woke up 18 days later to wish his daughter a happy birthday.
Phil Tynan, from Bristol, was initially treated by doctors for the flu, but after gasping for air in front of his worried wife and two daughters, he was rushed to the emergency room at the Bristol Royal Infirmary.
After testing positive for Covid-19, Mr Tynan was put into a medically-induced coma before being placed on a ventilator to fight the deadly disease.
Phil Tynan woke up from his coma after 18 days and was able to wish his daughter Lucy (L) a happy 21st birthday
Mr Tynan’s wife Sarah posted on her Instagram a picture of the family alongside a caption insisting that people must keep to social distancing
Mrs Tynan revealed that her husband Phil was fighting for his life in intensive care as she praised the ‘amazing’ NHS staff looking after him
Last Wednesday, as his family nervously waited for him to get better, the doting dad woke up in intensive care to wish his daughter, Lucy, a happy birthday after turning 21.
‘My dad was in an induced coma for 18 days straight,’ said daughter Lucy, choking back the tears.
‘But incredibly, on my birthday of all days, he fought hard and woke up on my 21st. He wished me a very muffled “Happy Birthday, Lucy”, but it was the best birthday present I could have ever asked for.’
The 21-year-old added how she had also contracted the virus, but was able to beat it while in hospital.
Mr Tynan, pictured here with his daughter Emma, was placed on a ventilator after being struck down by coronavirus
‘I thought that this coronavirus was a joke just like the next person,’ she said.
‘But after spending five days in the hospital with it and having my dad placed in an induced coma and not knowing whether I would see him again, all I can say is that it’s very real.
‘There is hope, however, in these hard times and I can’t wait to give dad a big hug when he finally comes home to his girls.’
Her sister, Emma, added: ‘We still have a long way to go, but it was such a huge obstacle to overcome.’
Wife Sarah (L) said that her husband Phil was still in intensive care at the Bristol Royal Infirmary
Their mum, Sarah, urged that those flouting social distancing rules should start taking coronavirus more seriously.
She said: ‘Phil’s currently fighting all he can with the help of the amazing staff in an intensive care unit.
‘He still remains in a very critical condition and we will not know any answers if his body will fight back for at least another five or seven days. Please take coronavirus seriously and keep to social distancing.’