Rare Covid reaction turned man yellow and left him needing blood transfusion

A granddad was left fighting for his life after suffering an incredibly rare symptom of Covid-19, which turned his skin yellow.

Lenny Jones, from Connah's Quay in North Wales was hospitalised not long after joking that he was turning into Bart Simpson.

The 69-year-old also experienced some breathlessness, but didn't think too much of the symptoms as they weren't ones typically associated with coronavirus.

After first hoping they would go away with time, Lenny was admitted to the Countess of Chester Hospital.

The ultra-rare symptoms were so shocking that doctors have said they believe Lenny to be just one of 12 people in the UK who have had the same reaction to the virus.

Speaking about his ordeal, Lenny told CheshireLive : "I woke up one morning and I thought there was something wrong with the mirror in the bedroom because I was yellow, I've got jaundice and, to put it plainly, I look like Bart Simpson.

"I was feeling ill so my wife, Sue, said 'Look we have got to go to the hospital'.

"I was quite adamant I wasn't going to go because I was scared. I said under no circumstances am I going to take myself to hospital, I'll get over it."

However, the dad-of-three's condition worsened and he was admitted to the Countess of Chester Hospital on January 17.

When he arrived, he took a Covid test, which came back positive and was immediately transferred to a Covid-only ward.

Of the six people on the ward, the granddad was the only one who didn't need to be ventilated but needed a blood transfusion to aid his recovery.

He said he was "devastated" that he had to be there as he couldn't see his wife.

Lenny was on the ward for 11 nights and has described the scenes he witnessed as heart-breaking.

He said: "It is so heart-breaking to see how hard these nurses are working and the dedication that they are putting into it all and some of them are kids, putting their life on the line for you.

"I look at it now as if they are fighting a war but when one gets shot there is no replacement they have to wait for that one to come back and it is just unbelievable how they bend over for you.

"They are risking everything and people don't realise what it is like in there, you actually hear of people disbelieving in it all."

Lenny says he broke down many times after witnessing the deaths of patients from coronavirus on the ward, also witnessing staff crying during shift change-overs.

After receiving his blood transfusion the former shift worker left the ward in a wheelchair and was greeted by his wife.

Staff gave him a round of applause as he left the hospital in Cheshire and headed home to North Wales.

Lenny added: "I was a 69-year-old fit man, now I am a 69-year-old wreck.

"But I am so thankful to be here and I want to thank all the nurses and doctors, what they are doing is remarkable, right down to the cleaner and up to the doctor, they all deserve a medal."

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