Sheffield's 'oldest' coronavirus survivor is a party animal who's already planning her 103rd birthday bash, says relieved grandson

Vera Beeley was filmed being wheeled out of the Northern General Hospital on Friday to applause from the health workers who had treated her, and she has returned to Heeley Bank Care Home, where she is self-isolating.

Her grandson Ian Whitehead today told how she is ‘strong as an ox’, described her as the ‘life and soul of the party’ and revealed she is already planning her 103rd birthday celebrations, which are due to take place shortly after she becomes a great-great-grandmother.

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“She’s always been very active and she loves singing and dancing. She’s the life and soul of any party and only last year she was up singing at a family celebration,” he said.

“She’s a bit of a live wire to be fair. She’ll be 103 in November and the last time we spoke she said we’re having another party when I’m 103. My daughter’s pregnant and she’s due in September so hopefully we’ll have five generations all celebrating together once this is over.”

Vera, a former school teacher who has two daughters, four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, was admitted to hospital last weekend and tested positive that Sunday. She was treated with oxygen before being discharged on Friday afternoon.

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“It was a worrying time. She went in on Sunday morning and on the Tuesday the consultant told us her blood pressure was really low, she was very cold and if it got any worse it could go bad. We’ve been through so many emotions,” said Ian.

“She had a stroke about 10 years ago and we didn’t think she’d survive that but she was still living in her own house in Arbourthorne until about 16 months ago. She’s as strong as an ox.”

Mr Whitehead added that the family had found it hard not being able to see his grandmother for the last four weeks as she has been self-isolating, but he said they were looking forward to a big reunion once the pandemic is over.