See the wonderful moment residents and supporters applaud Hartlepool paramedic who is recovering from Covid-19

Tony Traynor is recovering at home after being hospitalised three times as a consequence of catching Covid- 19 while working on the front line.

He was treated at the University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton and readmitted twice again before being allowed home.

Tony, an Army veteran, watched from his front gate as he was given a big round of applause on Thursday night by neighbours, friends and ambulance service colleagues.

He said: “I’ve been to Afghanistan in my previous life before the ambulance service but I’ve never been more scared than I have during the last three weeks.

“But there was somebody there to help me from the NHS every step of the way and, although I was scared, I felt safe.

“The care I have received has been second to none and the kindness from everyone has been overwhelming. I’ll never forget that.

“How do you say thanks? It’s just not enough.”

Helen Ray, NEAS Chief Executive, said: “Working for North East Ambulance Service, and the wider NHS, is like being part of a big family, which means we feel it even more when one of our own is ill or injured.

“We’re extremely grateful for the care that our colleagues at North Tees Hospital have provided to our colleague Tony and wish him all the best in his recovery.”

Friend and Hartlepool MP Mike Hill, who paid tribute to Tony in the House of Commons this week, added: “Tony has really been through the mill.

“So many people turned out tonight to applaud Tony including colleagues from the North East Ambulance Service and it was just incredible to witness people clapping for him and all our key workers.

“I am so grateful for the work people like Tony do; putting themselves at direct risk in order to help others.

“Like Tony they are true champions and real heroes.”

Tony appeared in the Mail in 2017 when be was injured by a glass bottle thrown at him while responding to a 999 call.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you.