A veteran spent Christmas Day alone in intensive care after a dream festive holiday to Thailand turned into a nightmare. Robert Kessell, from Wishaw, flew out to Asia on November 24 for a three-week solo trip ahead of the festive period.
On December 8, the 66-year-old was rushed to Pattaya City Hospital in the Soi Buakhao area by his friend Rose. He spent two weeks fighting for his life while unconscious on a ventilator after suffering from an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The pensioner battled back from the brink of death and was taken off of his ventilator last week.But he was forced to spend Christmas Day alone in ICU after coronavirus restrictions prevented Rose, who he had been visiting, from entering his hospital room.Rose managed to contact Rob's close family friend Linda Ross, 43, back home in Newmains, North Lanarkshire, who is now desperate to bring him home.Linda said: "Rob was in hospital unconscious and on a ventilator.
The doctors said he was probably going to pass away."There was no change at all and then one day last week, Rob woke up and he was trying to cough up something.
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