Paddy Doherty has been released from hospital, having thankfully overcome his harrowing battle with coronavirus.
Last week, the reality star was taken to hospital in Chester after developing pneumonia, leaving him struggling to breathe.
On Monday, the Big Fat Gypsy Weddings star, 61, took to Facebook to share a statement with his fans, revealing medical staff informed him he had a “fifty-fifty” chance of survival.
He said: “Just keep indoors now for 10 days, I’m a new man. I want to thank you all.”
The former Celebrity Big Brother star shared a tribute to the NHS, branding the doctors and nurses on call as the “greatest people on the planet”.
Coronavirus left the My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star struggling to breathe (Image: FACEBOOK)
He said: “The most important people I’ve ever seen in my life is them nurses and doctors. They’re a great team.
“They’ve got to go up first before the back crew get killed. And that’s what it’s like, they know exactly what’s happening.
“I’ve never seen nothing like it. They are the true warriors of God. They are the true angels.”
Adding that he “lived to tell the story,” Paddy continued: “Them nurses and doctors, they’ve nerves of steel. I don’t fear nothing, honestly I don’t.
Paddy rose to fame on the docuseries Big Fat Gyspy Weddings in 2010 (Image: Paddy Doherty)
“But them nurses. I was afraid there. But they were saying fifty-fifty.”
Finishing off his tribute, he added: “They’re the greatest people on the planet. Without them life wouldn’t exist.”
The Channel 4 star explained he has to take “a bag of steroids” in the coming days to aid his recovery, as he self-isolates at home.
Paddy had been on assisted breathing while in hospital, telling fans he had been “knocked down for six” by the virus.
Talking to Daily Star, Paddy said he was told by doctors he was hours from death, saying: “The paramedics arrived and said they needed to take me into hospital but I didn’t want to go but they insisted because they were really worried for me,” he said.
“They said ‘if you don’t go in you may not wake up tomorrow’.”
He also revealed he was experiencing headaches, exhaustion and shortness of breath, admitting he “was in a bit of a mess”.
Paddy thanked the NHS for their bravery and support, branding the nurses who helped him as “angels” (Image: Facebook)
Due to his hospitalisation, Paddy was unable to attend his sister’s funeral, breaking down as he opened up about this heartache over missing the service.
First airing in 2010, Big Fat Gypsy Weddings saw Paddy rise to fame, as the Channel 4 series documented the nuptials of members of the British-Irish travelling community.
The following year, he went on to win the eighth series of Celebrity Big Brother, beating runner-up Kerry Katona.
In the years that followed, Paddy fronted a number of documentaries and factual shows, including Channel 4’s The Truth About Traveller Crime and Gypsy Kids: Our Secret World.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
