ELATED Joey Needham summed up his father's resolute seven week battle against Covid 19 saying: “He’s a lion.”

The 29 year old was speaking after pictures of Jimmy Needham being wheeled out of Royal Oldham Hospital's intensive care unit accompanied by a team of applauding health workers went viral on social media.

Mr Needham senior, a former pub landlord, is a widely respected character in Oldham and a talented musician.

And delighted Joey said: “My amazing dad has come off ICU today onto a ward after kicking Covid-19's backside.

“ He truly is my absolute hero and I could not be more proud. There is only one Jimmy ‘The Lion’ Needham.”

And he added joyfully: “A massive thank you to the NHS staff who have saved his life. They are absolute heroes who deserve all the praise and credit in the world. My heart is absolutely in my mouth.”

Later Joey, who has his own kitchen fitting business, said: “My dad is now doing physiotherapy every day and he’s coming on leaps and bounds. As soon as he can walk he can come home.”

And he revealed Mr Needham senior still has a simple hand stitched heart-shaped keepsake which are helping to Oldham families united during the coronavirus epidemic.

“Yes he’s still got his heart and my Nan, Nora, who is my dads mother aged 90, still has the other one,” he confirmed. The response on Facebook to my dads illness has been outstanding.

‘I have had over 2,000 messages from people sending thetb love and best wishes for him and it has restored my faith in humanity how kind everyone has been to me and my family,”

A team of volunteer knitters have provided the hearts to Oldham Royal Hospital where one heart stays with patients in ICU. The other heart Is sent with a letter to families prevented from visiting their loved one because of government restrictions.