A great-grandmother has criticised those who refuse to wear face masks after spending six weeks in hospital battling Covid-19 and a potentially deadly blood clot.

Jean Williams, 74, has also praised the medics who saved her life following her stay at the QEQM Hospital in Margate.

She was found to have a potentially life-threatening blood clot caused by the virus, but is now thankfully recovering at home in Westgate with husband Peter.

Jean, who has three children, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild, does not know where she caught the virus.

Although Peter also tested positive, he was fortunate not to become seriously ill.

But as Jean’s condition deteriorated, her GP advised her to go to the hospital.

“I don’t remember a lot of the first few days," she said. “It was difficult not being able to see my husband and family but I knew they were willing me on.

'I wish people who don’t want to wear a mask, who don’t want to do as they are told, could go in and see what happens on the wards...'

“But the staff were absolutely wonderful, and were so encouraging. They made us feel good for every tiny achievement.

“When they told me my latest blood test results meant I could come off the mask, a cheer went up around the bay I was in.”

Tragically, some patients in Jean’s ward did not recover, despite the best efforts of the hospital staff - a fact that makes her even more grateful that she was able to go home.

She said: “There is nothing I can say to reflect how much their care meant to me. They work tremendously hard, they are always on the go, but whatever you want they will go and get it for you - even if it’s the middle of the night.

“I still need 24-hour oxygen but I feel a lot better in myself and I am so pleased to be home.

“I am walking around the flat with a walker; they have said it is going to be a long recovery but I will definitely get there.

“I won’t sit about and vegetate - I shall carry on doing my craft and I will get back to my old life in the end.”

The brave great-grandmother has since praised the staff who cared for her, particularly on Fordwich Ward.

But she also has a message for covidiots who are reluctant to follow the rules and government guidance.

“I cannot fault the staff," she said. "They were absolutely wonderful, they really were, and they were the ones who pulled me through.

“If I had a million pounds, I don’t think that would be enough to give them to say thank you.

“I wish people who don’t want to wear a mask, who don’t want to do as they are told, could go in and see what happens on the wards, and to have a go at wearing the CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) masks .

“Try it on and see how it feels to be confined like that. Watch what happens in the ward. Then they might see how silly they are being and that they are spreading the virus and more people will end up getting sick.”

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