Family reveal how 106-year-old Connie survived Covid

Great grandmum Connie Titchen became the oldest patient to fight off Covid-19 at the age of 106 – and her granddaughter puts it down to her active lifestyle.

Speaking following the fifth anniversary marking the pandemic, Alex Jones, mum-of-three, from Birmingham, revealed how her nan was like a cat with nine lives.

“The fact that she was so active played a part in her surviving Covid and bouncing back from all the things that had happened to her,” she recalled.

“She was a bit like a cat, lots of lives – she just kept on bouncing back.”

Connie was discharged from City Hospital, Birmingham, in April 2020 to a round of applause from staff. The moment was captured on video and viewed across the world as she became the oldest known survivor of the virus.

She was transferred to a nearby care home, where she continued to recover and was well enough to return home three months later.

However, she passed away six days after being discharged – a peaceful death where she was surrounded by her loved ones.

Alex, 46, spoke of the day Connie was taken to hospital with the virus: “My sister called me to say she wasn’t responsive in bed. I rushed round and she wouldn’t wake up so we called an ambulance.

“When she got to hospital, they could see how bad she was and wanted me to go in to say my goodbyes to her. I had a Capri-Sun drink to give to her as I knew she loved them and handed it to the nursing staff before she was taken away.

“And then I waited. When I finally went in and she was sitting up and chatting. The nurse told me she’d drank the Capri-Sun and had perked up. I couldn’t believe my eyes.”

But there were days when the nurses would call to say she wasn’t great and to expect the worst. Nursery owner Alex and the family kept updated on the unfolding situation surrounding the pandemic and were sceptical that Connie would survive.

“When you watched the news and saw how many people were dying, I’d think how is this tiny little lady going to survive this,” added Alex.

“Even the staff in the hospital were so impressed by her. She didn’t make a fuss at all right up until the day she was discharged. Seeing everyone clapping as she was wheeled out was so emotional.”

When Connie did finally come home, Alex and the family kept all the newspaper clippings to show her how she’d become a worldwide celebrity.

“We showed her, but she was more bothered about finally being home. It was really important to nan and she was happy to be home.”

Alex concluded: “Wherever nan went, people would remember her. She led such a full life – when she hit 50, she decided she wanted to learn how to drive and she took up dancing and golf!”

Connie’s son-in-law Phil Jones, 77, added: “She was also in the Birchfield Cycling Club. She was always doing something and cared for my wife and her son until they passed away. She had a really hard life but was resilient. She was one tough lady.”