Watch: Joy as Donegal woman survives Covid-19 after 71-day battle

A brave Donegal woman has issued an emotional thank you medics for saving her life after her critical battle with Covid-19.

Gail Lafferty fought the virus for over two months and spent three and a half weeks in ICU.

After 71 days of intensive treatment and recovery, she finally walked out the doors of Sligo Unversity Hospital recently.

There were emotional scenes as hospital staff clapped in celebration of Gail’s remarkable recovery.

The Donegal woman recounted her ordeal in a video shared by the Saolta University Healthcare Group, which tells of how she was taken to hospital in March without realising she had Covid-19.

Gail says she thinks she had the virus four or five days before the ambulance was called.

“I don’t remember anything and I was in ICU for quite a long time,” she said.

“I’ve been in hospital for 71 days but half of that I don’t remember.”

A steep road of recovery lay ahead for Gail, as the virus left her so weak that she couldn’t lift her legs or sit-up properly before undergoing physiotherapy. It was thanks to her physiotherapist Laura that she gained her strength again and she can now lift weights and walk up and down the stairs.

Gail’s message to others is: “If anybody is feeling ill they shouldn’t worry about coming into hospital, they are amazing, they are here to look after you and Sligo hospital is amazing. And I’m so grateful they saved my life.”