British Covid-19 patient in Vietnam may return home on July 12

A British pilot, who is the most critical Covid-19 patient in Vietnam, is having a good convalescence and may be in a good shape for the repatriation flight scheduled to leave Hanoi on July 12, local media reported.

The UK embassy in Hanoi has sent a note to Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Health, requesting the repatriation of the British pilot.

The UK ambassador thanked Vietnamese doctors for saving the 43-year-old patient over the past few months and asked them to check if the patient is fit to travel by plane.

The male pilot has miraculously recovered and is about to return home. Photo: N.H.

A Vietnam Airlines aircraft is set to fly to the UK that day to bring home stranded Vietnamese citizens due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

With regard to hospital fees, the British embassy said the insurance company that provides services for the British patient, will cover all the cost so that the patient could leave Vietnam with assistance by Vietnamese health specialists.

The insurance company has also agreed to arrange doctors to receive the patient when he lands in the UK.

The patient is poised to return to his hometown in Scotland, the UK. The insurance company recently paid VND3.5 billion (US$150,711) for the patient’s treatment cost at the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital of Tropical Diseases where he underwent treatment from March 18 to May 22.

Before the patient goes home, leading Vietnamese specialists will have to hold another national consultation to see if he is healthy enough to be discharged from the hospital and endure a long flight to the UK.

The patient has undergone treatment at the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital of Tropical Diseases and HCM City-based Cho Ray Hospital for 102 days and several times suffered life-threatening emergencies during the treatment.

He had to battle for life as his lungs were seriously damaged due to infection complications. He was put on ECMO, a life support machine.

The Briton has gradually recovered and has tested negative for the coronavirus. He now can breathe unaided, walk, communicate well with others, and has been practicing physical therapy, but doctors said he needs more time for full rehabilitation.