A NURSE endured a gruelling 32-day fight for his life.

Orlando Fulgencio was in intensive care for more than a month at Eastbourne District General Hospital after contracting coronavirus.

But, with the help of hospital staff, he was able to fight the virus and was met with jubilant scenes as he was discharged from the ICU.

The frailty unit nurse punched the air as he was wheeled down a corridor lined with clapping colleagues in his hospital bed.

He said: “I would like to thank the doctors and nurses and everyone who has helped look after me in hospital, especially the critical care team.”

Critical care matron Philippa Hartland was one of those to applaud Orlando as he celebrated overcoming coronavirus.

She said: “It was fantastic to see Orlando leave the unit after 32 days being treated for Covid-19.

“He has had a tough battle and made a remarkable recovery.

“Seeing every patient recover from this virus is special but it is even more special when it is one of our own nurses.”

Orlando will now continue his recovery on the hospital’s Jevington ward, an area which he will be only too familiar with, having previously worked on the ward.

Orlando is not the first staff member to recover from coronavirus in Sussex.

Uma Pradhan, a nurse at the Conquest Hospital in St Leonards, spent 30 days in intensive care at the site before being discharged.

She was also met with a guard of honour from her colleagues, and said she could not wait to see her family after being forced to spend such a long time apart.