Former Leeds rugby league star Errol Johnson wins Covid-19 fight

Mr Johnson, 53, of Headingley, was in an induced coma for three weeks and in intensive care for a total of 51 days at St James's Hospital.

He was finally discharged from hospital on Wednesday June 3 after spending 67 days in hospital.

Mr Johnson's family and friends stood on the street outside his home in Headingley and applauded him amid emotional scenes when he arrived home by ambulance.

Mr Johnson has two children - daughter Kiana, 25, and son Luis, 21, who is a professional rugby league player for Warrington Wolves.

Mr Johnson's niece Nicola Sterling-Lawrance, 46, of Seacroft, said: "It was distressing. He is very fit and active and was at the gym five or six days a week.

"It was hard because everybody just felt so helpless.

"Apparently his oxygen levels were so low that the doctors didn't think he was going to make it. They had to put him in an induced coma."

Mrs Lawrance added: "Everyone is just so happy and so proud that he has pulled through. Everyone was praying so much."

"Errol is the most kind person I have ever met. He is so supportive to his family and friends and his community. He is an amazing guy."

Mr Johnson's former Leeds RL teammate Ikram Butt, said: "I'm just delighted that he is on his way to recovery."

Mr Butt is an ambassador for UK-based ‘One Family', which has been leading volunteer teams to deliver frontline care boxes to NHS staff across the country.

Mr Butt and members of Mr Johnson's family have delivered care boxes for Leeds Cares, the charity for Leeds Teaching Hospitals.

The care boxes will be distributed to staff on the intensive care unit and the respiratory ward, where Errol was a patient.

Giles Fretwell, part of the fundraising team at Leeds Cares, said donations like these made a huge difference. Our hospital staff are working so incredibly hard to look after everyone in their care.

"They do this without expecting anything in return, so it makes it even more special when people surprise them - making the effort to say thank you and provide a care package to brighten up their day.”