HANOI — Vietnam’s most seriously ill COVID-19 patient, a British pilot who at one point seemed close to death, left the hospital on Saturday on his way home after a dramatic recovery that attracted national attention.
The case of Stephen Cameron, a pilot for national carrier Vietnam Airlines, became a sensation in Vietnam, where a combination of targeted testing and an aggressive quarantine program has kept its coronavirus tally to an impressively low 370 cases, and zero deaths.
“The odds say that I shouldn’t be here, so I can only thank everybody here for what they’ve done,” Mr. Cameron said, leaving the hospital in a wheelchair and flanked by doctors holding flowers.
The 43-year-old Scot, who arrived in the Southeast Asian country from Britain in early March, was hospitalized three days after his first flight for Vietnam Airlines, following a visit to a bar in Ho Chi Minh City that became linked to a cluster of coronavirus cases.
Mr. Cameron’s illness and the highly publicized efforts of Vietnam’s doctors to save him became a symbol in Vietnam of the country’s successful fight against the virus.
At one point, medical officials said Mr. Cameron, initially identified only as “Patient 91,” had just 10% of his lung capacity and was in critical condition.
With the vast majority of Vietnam’s COVID-19 patients already recovered, the news of a potential first death prompted a national outpouring of support, with dozens of people coming forward as potential lung donors.
State doctors turned the volunteers down, saying donated lungs should come from brain-dead donors.
But under round-the clock care, Mr. Cameron improved. By June he no longer required a lung transplant and was taken off life support.
Vietnam spent over $200,000 treating him. Vietnamese doctors will accompany Mr. Cameron on the special flight back to Britain, state media said.
“As soon as I get fit, I’m coming back,” said Mr. Cameron. “I’m still a pilot—my license has lapsed, that’s all.” — Reuters
