Coronavirus News: Man from Long Island shocked to be alive after recovering from COVID-19

Monday, April 13, 2020
RIVERHEAD, Long Island (WABC) -- A man from Westhampton was released from the hospital on Sunday after recovering from coronavirus.

In mid-March, Josh Wortman, 45, suffered such severe coronavirus symptoms that he had to go by ambulance to Northwell Health/Peconic Bay Medical Center.

For a whole week, he was in the ICU. He lost 20 pounds and could not believe it's been three weeks and that he's finally on the other side of COVID-19.

Wortman is married to his wife, Rachel, and they have a 6-year-old son, AJ, and a dog named Coco. Wortman fought for his life every day in the hospital and there were scary moments.

He explains having a tube down your throat is awful.

He said he was only able to hear his wife and his son through an iPad and through messages from caring nurses who held his hand all the time.

After being sick for being more than two weeks, it was very hard for Wortman to breathe and walk on his own.

Wortman urges people who hear about his story to stay home for their family, friends and community.

He says his experience was terrible. He is both shocked and grateful that he's alive.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 COVERAGE



UPDATES

Grieving the lost: Tri-State residents who have died
New Jersey
Connecticut
New York City
Long Island

RESOURCES

Where are the testing centers
See how our communities are making a difference
Free educational resources for parents and children
How you can help victims of coronavirus

RELATED INFORMATION

Share your coronavirus story with Eyewitness News
Stimulus check scams and other coronavirus hoaxes
Coronavirus prevention: how clean are your hands?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on coronavirus
Total count of NYC COVID-19 cases based on patient address
Copyright © 2024 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.