'Miracle' as 93-year-old Sheffield mum survives coronavirus infection

On March 16, Esme Race had travelled to Sussex for her grandson’s wedding ceremony only to suffer a fall the day before the event and break her hip in the process.

She was initially being cared for at the Princess Royal Hospital at Hayward Heath before being transferred to Royal Hallamshire Hospital in her home city of Sheffield.

After spending one week in the Hallamshire, she was due to be sent for rehabilitation in a rest home when she unfortunately became infected with the coronavirus.

Esme’s daughter, Mary Grocock said: “I have been living in self-isolation as they let me see my mum for 20 minutes when they first diagnosed her. I felt the need to spend the next 20 minutes with her as we all feared the worst and I thought I may never see her again.

“She’s absolutely amazed everybody, I thought she was really going to struggle recovering from the broken hip - never mind battling the coronavirus as well. Unfortunately, it’s still a mystery as to how she actually contracted the virus.

“Even though she must have caught the virus sometime through transition between hospitals, I must admit I cannot thank the heroes currently working within the NHS enough.

“Mum received the Women of Steel award in 2016 for working at British Steel when the men went to fight in the war and, again at 93-years-old she has proven she truly is a woman of steel.”