Kochi, Apr 2 (IANS): A British tourist, who was coronavirus positive but tried to flee on a flight to UAE earlier this month, was discharged from a government hospital here on Wednesday after testing negative.

Brian Neil, 57, had arrived in the state with his wife and 17 others in the first week of March and were holidaying at the famed tourist destination at Munnar.

On March 14, breaking the isolation norms, he, along with the tour party, reached the Cochin airport and after all clearances, boarded the flight, when the word came that there was one coronavirus positive case on the plane, forcing the airport authorities to disembark all.

Neil, his wife and the others were taken to the hospital and put under isolation. While later, his wife tested negative, seven others came out positive.

According to the medical team, things were tough for Neil with progressive reduction in oxygen level leading to respiratory failure and he needing continuous oxygen administration. Promptly started on antiviral cocktails along with hydroxy-chloroquine and azithromycin, he also needed ventilatory support.

After three days of starting antivirals, his general conditionA began to improve, though he continued to have unremitting fever.

A week later, his fever subsided and X-ray also showed radiological improvement. With the antiviral treatment, his 2 samples turned out to be negative for Covid-19.

He was provided daily psychological support by a psychiatry team.

The medical team was led by the principal of the Medical College hospital and included three doctors who studied at the Sainik School in the state capital.