A 'popular', much-loved grandad-of-seven is stranded in Turkey and relying on a ventilator to stay alive.
John Noble, 73, from Wythenshawe, had travelled to a rented apartment in Marmaris at the end of February to enjoy a month-long break with wife, Lilian. On Wednesday morning (March 23), three weeks into their trip, the former Manchester Council worker was rushed to hospital after appearing confused and screaming "my head is burning".
Hailed as a 'pillar of the community', John's family called him a 'popular' man, known across Manchester for his work managing grounds and parks in the region for more than five decades. His family are now desperate for him to come home.
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Earlier in the week, John, who is a great-grandad to four, began 'feeling off' and had stopped eating. After his wife Lilian went to wake him up with toast and a cup of tea on Wednesday, granddaughter Molly said her 'nana couldn't get any sense out of him' and that he was 'not with it'. An ambulance was called and he was rushed to Marmaris State Hospital.
The family were then forced to foot a £245 bill for the hospital stay, which lasted just a few hours, before he was transferred to the university hospital in Mulga for treatment on his lung. It was then that Lilian was handed the news that his kidney function was low, he had an obstruction on his lung and he had contracted Covid-19.
Further tests and CT scans at the hospital then revealed that John was suffering from thrombosis in his lungs and, due to his deterioration, he was quickly moved to the intensive care unit and hooked up to a ventilator. He is still relying on oxygen and the family they could face huge treatment bills upwards of £10,000 as his travel health insurance policy could not be extended. The family set up a Go Fund Me page here
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News from Wythenshawe, John's grandaughter Molly, 29, said: "My nana had gone to wake him up with tea and toast and he just wasn't with it and she couldn't get any sense out of him. When he eventually came round he just screamed that his head was burning.
"When he got to the university hospital, they carried out blood tests and found his kidney function was low, he had a CT scan and they found he had an obstruction on the lung and then found out that he had tested positive for Covid-19. He was put on a ventilator straight away as he could not breathe properly without oxygen.
"On Wednesday night, doctors had to carry out an emergency procedure on his lung and they are still waiting to find out more information. They have told my nana that he will be in hospital for at least a week, and when he does get out, cannot fly home for at least four weeks following treatments.
"They had been really looking forward to their holiday together and first flew out at the end of February to an apartment. They are also meant to be going back again in April to the same apartment.
"We are just praying and hoping he gets better. We have been told various treatments and the stay in hospital could cost over £10,000. We are just desperate for him to get home safe, but he cannot fly home for at least four weeks and we have been told it will be a long road to recovery for him. He will need to take blood thinners for the rest of his life, but we are just taking it day by day for now."
The family set up a Go Fund Me page in a bid to raise some funds towards his treatment and to catch the eye of people in Manchester who John may have come across in his years working for the council. Describing the great grandad, the page says: "Our dad (John) has been a pillar of the community for over 60 years, his lifelong career was working for Manchester City Council working for the parks and grounds maintenance department where he was admired by all and a popular man. He is a kind soul, everyone who meets him warms to him immediately.
"We desperately need our communities help to help pay for these extensive medical bills we are about to face. Please can you help us in any way to help get him back home to good health."
