he 55-year-old, who had no travel history to any affected country and wishes to be known only as Ben, spent 13 days in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Alexandra Hospital (AH).

Doctors say that 80 per cent of the patients infected by the coronavirus suffer only mild symptoms. Only 5 per cent of the cases turn out to be as severe as Ben's, who literally had to fight for his life.

He was so touched by the treatment he received that he returned to the hospital last Friday to thank the staff. Here is an account of his struggle.

It was the nurses who helped him piece together what had happened. He also read the messages that his family members sent to one another.

"I honestly didn't realise how critical my condition was. I only saw from the messages that my brother sent to my family. One message said my condition had improved but I was unconscious."

The nurses would call him by his name. When he soiled himself, they would clean up after him. They would "turn me to the left, turn me to the right... and move me to a more comfortable position".

He said he felt bad on occasions when he had to call for help just a few minutes after the nurse left his room.

"They have to put on their protective gear every time they come, but they never complained."

"The nurse actually took the trouble to comb my hair. How many people actually comb your hair for you?

"There was one day when I asked if I could get a disposable shaver. The nurse actually went to get one for me so I was very touched."

The doctors and nurses who walked past his room and whom he did not recognise would wave and smile at him.