A special concert is to be held as a ‘thank you’ to a hospital, which a Holsworthy woman says “saved my life” during the COVID pandemic.

In 2020, Mandy Mitchell spent an astonishing 93 days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at North Devon District Hospital (NDDH).  

She was admitted to the hospital in Barnstaple with COVID-19 on Sunday, March 22, just hours before the UK went into its first lockdown. 

Mandy spent the next five-and-a-half weeks in an induced coma and was given only a 50/50 chance of survival.  

The ICU team risked their own lives to save Mandy’s, and against the odds, on June 22, a total of 96 days later, she was able to leave hospital and come home to her family amid huge local and national media attention.

Now, Mandy is planning to give something back to the hospital that saved her life. 

Mandy, husband Kevin and hospital radio station Tarka Radio have organised an evening with top Cornish comedian Johnny Cowling, at Holsworthy Memorial Hall on Saturday, January 27, in aid of Tarka Radio and hospital charity Over and Above.

Money raised for Over and Above will help the ICU at NDDH provide even better support for critically-ill patients and their families, over and above what’s possible with NHS funding.   

Mandy said: “I am still overwhelmed by the incredible care for me at the hospital. It was such a huge team effort and although I have little memory of my time in ICU, I will be forever thankful for everything they did to save my life.  

“They did so many fantastic things for me so I’m hoping to give a little bit back if I can.  

“I hope people will have a great evening watching Johnny Cowling and help raise some money to enable our wonderful hospital do even more for patients and their families.”  

The ‘Evening with Johnny Cowling’ at Holsworthy Memorial Hall will also feature a raffle, auction and bar. Tickets are £15 each and are available online at crbo.co.uk/tarka or by calling the box office on 01726 63513. 

Tickets are also available from The White Hart Hotel in Holsworthy, as well as the Over and Above fundraising office at North Devon District Hospital. 

To support Mandy’s fundraising, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/kevin-mitchell-4