Costa Blanca police officer given ‘Covid-19 all clear’ leaves hospital ICU to a joyous greeting from colleagues

A BENIDORM police officer was given a rapturous greeting as he left IMED Levante Hospital’s ICU to applause and sirens sounding by colleagues who accompanied him home.

The officer, in his 40’s, started showing symptoms more than two weeks ago and was in the Hospital Comarcal de La Villajoyosa.

Sources told Informacion that on March 23 his condition worsened and he had to be admitted to ICU.

They said the officer is prone to respiratory problems, but they were “surprised by the way his condition worsened in a matter of hours as a result of the virus.”

Last week, the recovered patient was transferred to the IMED Levante Hospital in Benidorm, where he remained in ICU initially, until his joyous discharge yesterday.

His delighted colleagues of Benidorm Local Police were waiting to give him a hero’s welcome before accompanying him home.

Lorenzo Martinez, of the Department of Public Safety in Benidorm, said there is a feeling of real “hope and excitement” after the release of the patient.

The councillor said the department “remains very attentive to the health status of other colleagues that could be infected,” while encouraging “the entire population” to follow the State of Alarm recommendations.

The Professional Union of Police, Firefighters and Officials of Benidorm (SPPLB), delegate Francisco Angel Gonzalez, also conveyed “the pride of the whole group for the recovery of this officer. All members of the Local Police of Benidorm are doing a great job in the fight against the coronavirus.”