Belfast solicitor Niall Murphy released from hospital after being told he had a 50% chance of survival with Covid-19

Mr Murphy, a partner at KRW Law, spent 16 days in an induced coma at Antrim Area Hospital.

Mr Murphy’s wife was told there was only a 50% chance he would survive.

The married father-of-three called for a “re-evaluation of society” and how he hoped people would appreciate the health service more now.

He said he became unwell after he returned from speaking at a St Patrick’s Day event in New York on 10 March.

He isolated at home for 12 days but by 25 March, he had developed a cough and had difficulties breathing.

The lawyer was taken to hospital and he did not have a chance to speak to his wife before he was placed in a medically-induced coma.

“I texted her to tell her what was happening, there was no opportunity to phone,” he said.

“I didn’t feel anything other than this is the right thing to do; it was just a process and these guys [healthcare staff] know what they are doing.”

He added that previously the only time he has been in hospital was with a sports injury or at the birth of his children.

He describes feeling “elated beyond description” when he was wheeled out of intensive care and thanked the staff that “took time out of their day to make me feel better emotionally”.