A Scottish offshore diver is on the road to recovery after Covid-19 complications left him in an induced coma for several weeks thousands of miles from home.
Davy Duncan from Fort William was on a vessel off the coast of Mexico doing contract work for Subsea 7 when he tested positive for the virus on February 19.
He was then airlifted off the ship and transferred to a company villa with doctors, but his condition started to deteriorate “very quickly”.
As a result, on February 25 he was admitted to a local hospital.
Helen Smith, Davy’s partner, said: “He was put into the basement with other Covid patients who were all dying, basically.
“They were trying to stabilise Davy because the pilot of a helicopter – that was due to take him to a specialist hospital – refused to fly because he was too poorly – he needed too much oxygen.”
In an effort to stabilise Davy, on February 28 the decision was taken to put him into an induced coma because “he was getting worse”.
A few days later he was transferred to another hospital, at which point he was in a critical condition.
“The doctors told me afterwards that they hadn’t expected him to live for five days when he arrived because he was in such a bad state,” Helen said.
Towards the end of March, Davy was taken out of the coma.
As a result of his Covid complications, he had suffered a series of strokes, as well as organ failure.
Moreover, bacteria had eaten some of his blood meaning he was in “desperate need” of a transfusion.
Helen said: “In Mexico, it’s not a case of the hospital providing you blood, you have to get it from blood banks. He got a couple of pints through various doctors friends donating for them.
“There was one day I spent sitting in a taxi with a translator rushing around trying to buy blood for him – it was one of the most bizarre things ever.
“He needed three pints that day and we could only get one.
“Eventually, after we had contacted hotels and businesses to try and find blood, two army personnel and a police officer turned up to donate.”
As his condition improved, Davy – who has worked in numerous locations across the world, including Nigeria, Egypt and the North Sea, where he once came to nose to nose with a Shark – was in a position to travel and he left Mexico on April 24.
He was repatriated to Scotland and flown by air ambulance to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Raigmore Hospital, Inverness.
Since then, he has been moved into the rehabilitation unit where he is currently working to overcome the challenge of re-learning how to walk.
Helen said: “He’s going to be in a wheelchair long-term. Medically he’s doing well, his kidneys have improved but it’s going to be a very long process. We’ve no idea how long it will take.”
© Supplied by Helen SmithSince returning to Scotland, Helen and Davy’s family and friends have rallied around the couple.
Tomorrow, one friend is undertaking the Herculean feat of trying to break the record for the most climbs of Ben Nevis in 24 hours.
All the money raised will go towards adapting Davy’s house to make it suitable for his return.
Helen said: “Davy’s highly thought of in the local community and he’s got friends and family all over the world. He’s an amazing, compassionate person who’s always been there for everybody so it’s great the people are here for him.”
And she was full of praise for Subsea 7 too, describing the way the energy services giant has handled the situation as “amazing”.
Looking ahead, Helen has one clear goal in mind for Davy’s recovery.
“I hope to have him home this year, that’s as far as we can predict.”