Dad-of-ten, 95, who called his family to 'say goodbye' when he was struck down with COVID-19 is back with his wife after WINNING a five-week battle with the virus
- Victor Cornell, 95, has received a negative test for COVID-19 after five weeks
- A father-of-10, Mr Cornell managed to recover despite the odds against him
- He has been reunited with his wife after a long period of isolation in Melbourne
- People over 90 account for 30 per cent of COVID-19 deaths in Australia
A 95-year-old man has been released from hospital after beating the odds to survive COVID-19 following a five-week battle with the deadly disease.
Father-of-ten Victor Cornell is out of isolation after returning two negative tests at a hospital in metropolitan Melbourne.
The former tennis coach had resigned himself to death, saying goodbye to his family as the virus took hold of his body.
People over the age of 90 account for nearly 30 per cent of all coronavirus deaths in Australia.
Mr Cornell shared a beaming photo from hospital bed on Tuesday, after being told he was allowed to see his wife again after five long weeks.
'It's not much fun being on your own,' Mr Cornell told ABC Radio Melbourne's Drive program.
The 95-year-old will remain in hospital while he recovers from a broken hip, along with his wife Jean who is recovering from COVID-19.
Mr Cornell said there is still a long road to recovery.
'Some days I am better than others,' he said.
'I've overcome [the coronavirus symptoms] slowly — hope is a great thing.'
Victor Cornell (pictured, second from left), 95, with his ten children. Now a grandfather, Mr Cornell has survived a five week battle with COVID-19 against all odds
His son Russell said the family felt helpless watching their father's health deteriorate while he was in isolation.
He said they thought he wouldn't survive.
Mr Cornell suspects he contracted COVID-19 at Royal Melbourne Hospital while being treated for a cut on his nose in early July.
The 95-year-old and his partner Jean then tested positive to the disease and were forced into isolation at Maroondah Hospital in Melbourne's east.
Cut off from his family, the grandfather battled the disease in isolation for five weeks.
Mr Cornell (pictured) sips a juice box in hospital isolation after recovering from coronavirus. He almost gave up but thanks to encouraging words from his family, he pulled through
Given the coronavirus mortality rate increases with age, both doctors and his family - and even Mr Cornell himself - believed he would die from the virus.
But on Tuesday, it was revealed Mr Cornell has recovered from the virus and is now waiting for a negative test result so he can finally leave hospital isolation.
In a phone call to his son Russell, Mr Cornell said he wouldn't have survived without the support of his large loving family.
'Yeah (I'm doing okay). Good on you, son. My family has been marvellous, they have stood by me. I've got a lot to live for,' Mr Cornell said, according to 7News.
Mr Cornell spent five weeks in isolation at Maroondah Hospital (pictured) after contracting COVID-19
Mr Cornell's son Russell said his father even made an 'emotional' phone call to him last week 'to say goodbye' to his adult children.
'We told him: 'Dad, whatever you're doing, you've always got to hate Collingwood and barrack for Carlton,' and he liked that.'
Mr Cornell attributes his survival to his active lifestyle and the fact he has never smoked.
A former tennis coach, he taught the sport for 50 years from the ages of 25 to 75 before finally retiring.
