A COURAGEOUS Greenock pensioner who won his battle with coronavirus has told how the deadly illness has affected his active lifestyle.

Gordon Kay, 72, spent nine weeks in hospital earlier this year and for three of those weeks he was in induced paralysis fighting for his life on a ventilator.

The resilient senior citizen has spent the last few weeks recuperating at his home in Finnart Street but he admits the after-effects of the virus are still with him.

Gordon said: "My walking is restricted now.

"I can walk a few hundred yards before I have to sit down or stop

"I still feel tired all the time but I make myself go for a wee walk every day.

"I have to do something. I've always been active.

"I get really frustrated that I can't walk about and do things for my daughters Jenni and Gill but maybe I'm too impatient.

"I still don't feel like I haven't done anything special."

Gordon says he found lockdown really difficult and he's pleased he can now get out and about to meet people again, which he says has been an important part of his recovery.

He added: "It was really difficult during lockdown not being able to see folk.

"I can still get in my car and get out and about though, so it's been great going out and meeting people again."

Gordon featured in the Tele after he was discharged and his story caught the attention of the BBC who spoke to him as part of their Disclosure documentary which was broadcast this week.

Since his story appeared in the Tele and he was featured on the small screen, Gordon says he's been in touch with people he hasn't heard from in years.

He enjoyed reminiscing about his career in the shipyards as part of the programme, which focused on the area's unwanted tag of 'Covid Capital' of Scotland and the soci-economic problems caused by industrial decline.

Gordon added: "I enjoyed by time in the yards.

"I spent all my time there until the last 20 years of my working life when I worked for the lighthouse board, looking after every lighthouse in Scotland.

"I'm concerned about jobs in Inverclyde now.

"I really hope things change for the next generation coming up."

The programme has drawn some criticism around how Inverclyde was portrayed but Gordon says he's very proud of how people in communities across the district have rallied round in these very difficult times.

He added: "People have definitely pulled together and it's been great to see that.

"I like Inverclyde.

"I'm born and bred here and I've lived here all my life.

"I don't want to live anywhere else."