The clip by the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh’s critical care team has been viewed tens of thousands of times online.
A video of a coronavirus patient leaving a hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU) has been viewed more than 70,000 times online.
The clip, posted by the critical care team at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, shows Pete Mitchell being clapped by NHS staff – covered in personal protective equipment – as he is moved to the high dependency unit (HDU).
The hospital team are shown in high spirits, laughing as the automatic doors close on Mr Mitchell before he can leave the ward.
Once the doors reopen the 65-year-old can be seen clapping back and as he is wheeled out of the ward he looks to the camera and puts both thumbs up.
The tweet said Mr Mitchell was in the ICU for 10 days with staff “delighted to be able to move our amazing patient”.
Tracey Gillies, NHS Lothian medical director, said: “We are happy that Mr Mitchell has recovered well and has been able to move from our intensive care unit to a non-ICU ward.
“Our staff continue to work very hard to provide excellent care and support to all our patients.”
His wife Eileen was among family members tweeting thanks to those who had cared for him in a reply to the video.
She said: “I can’t thank you all enough for your care and attention. You’re all miracle workers and my heroes.”
Mrs Mitchell from South Queensferry, Edinburgh, said her husband had come on “leaps and bounds” and was supposed to leave ICU at the weekend before his oxygen levels dropped.
The 62-year-old told the Edinburgh Evening News: “It started the day before the lockdown began.
“It just started with a small cough but it progressed to the sweats but he got really unwell on around the seventh day.
“(The NHS staff) were really amazing, they were so quick. I couldn’t say goodbye properly to him as I had to distance myself and then all of a sudden he was away, I wasn’t sure when he was coming back or if he was coming back.”
She added: “It’s our silver wedding anniversary on May 6 so I hope he is back in time for that.”
George Heriot’s School, where Mr Mitchell works, said on Twitter: “We are delighted to see one of our WAC Staff on the road to recovery.
“Sending all our love to you and your family.”
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape accused Joe Biden of disparaging the South Pacific island nation by implying that an uncle of the U.S. president had been eaten by “cannibals” there during World War II.
Biden’s comments offended a key strategic ally as China moves to increase its influence in the region.
The president spoke at a Pennsylvania war memorial last week about his Army Air Corps aviator uncle Second Lt. Ambrose J. Finnegan Jr., whom he said was shot down over Papua New Guinea, which was a theater of heavy fighting.
“They never found the body because there used to be — there were a lot of cannibals for real in that part of New Guinea,” Biden said, referring to the country’s main island.
Marape said in a statement on Sunday that Biden “appeared to imply his uncle was eaten by cannibals.”
“President Biden’s remarks may have been a slip of the tongue; however, my country does not deserve to be labeled as such,” Marape said in a statement provided by his office to The Associated Press on Monday.
“World War II was not the doing of my people; however, they were needlessly dragged into a conflict that was not their doing,” Marape added.
The rift comes as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese began a visit on Monday to Papua New Guinea, Australia’s nearest neighbor. Albanese and Marape will commemorate strong defense ties between the two countries by walking part of a pivotal battle ground known as the Kokoda Track later this week.
“I’m very confident that PNG has no stronger partner than Australia and our defense and security ties have never been stronger,” Albanese told reporters before departing Australia.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday Biden was speaking to the bravery of his uncle and the many U.S. service members that put their lives on the line.
“He takes this very seriously. His uncle, who served and protected this country, lost his life serving. And that should matter,” she said.
Biden's account that Finnegan's plane was shot down was not supported by military records. Finnegan was a passenger on a Douglas A-20 Havoc transport plane that crashed into the ocean after both engines failed on May 14, 1944, according to a Pentagon report.
One crew member survived but no trace was found of the plane or three other people on board, including Finnegan.
Marape’s statement was released on the same day he met China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Port Moresby to discuss building closer relations.
Marape also called on the U.S. to find its war dead in Papua New Guinea’s jungles and to clean up the wreckage of war.
“The remains of WWII lie scattered all over PNG, including the plane that carried President Biden’s uncle," Marape said.
“Perhaps, given President Biden’s comments and the strong reaction from PNG and other parts of the world, it is time for the USA to find as many remains of World War II in PNG as possible, including those of servicemen who lost their lives like Ambrose Finnegan,” he said.
“The theaters of war in PNG and Solomon Islands are many, and littered with the remains of WWII including human remains, plane wrecks, ship wrecks, tunnels and bombs. Our people daily live with the fear of being killed by detonated bombs of WWII,” Marape added.
FILE - Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape, left, listens during a meeting with Pacific Islands Forum leaders during the U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum Summit in the East Room of the White House, Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, in Washington. Prime Minister Marape accused Joe Biden of disparaging the South Pacific island nation by implying that an uncle of the U.S. president had been eaten by “cannibals” there during World War II. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
