Man who had Covid for 290 days dies years later
BBCA man who was once infected with coronavirus for 290 straight days - longer than almost anyone else recorded in the world - has died.
Dave Smith, 76, died peacefully at his home in Bristol on 1 April, his family said. The BBC understands he did not have coronavirus at the time of his death.
Mr Smith, who was a pub and club performer, made headlines around the world after contracting Covid in May 2020 and being unable to fight it off for 10 months.
He was dubbed a "miracle man" by doctors for surviving the virus, which saw him hospitalised seven times and left him with 51% of his lung capacity.
In 2021, scientists at the University of Bristol studied Mr Smith's case to try to understand how Covid acts and mutates within the body.
He described his experience of having Covid as "like someone has pulled the plug and life is just draining out of your body".
He lost 10 stone (63.5kg) during his illness, and was left barely able to walk or hold a conversation.
Speaking about his ordeal, Mr Smith said he felt "ready to give up" and "resigned" himself to dying as a result of Covid.
He eventually became Covid-free in 2021 after being treated with a mixture of antiviral drugs provided by the US company Regeneron on compassionate grounds.
A driving instructor by day and a lead singer by night, Mr Smith was left unable to play with his band due to his ordeal.
He did however get the chance to perform again to a hometown crowd when he staged a successful comeback gig in Bristol and went on to fulfil a personal dream in 2023 when he performed on the West End with a Covid choir.
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