CROSSGATES nurse Pauline Cafferkey thanked the staff who “saved my life” after she was released from hospital in London at the weekend.

The 39-year-old spent weeks in a critical condition as she battled for her life against the deadly Ebola virus which she contracted in Sierra Leone while volunteering as a healthcare worker.

People from her home village of Crossgates were among those who prayed for her recovery as her condition took a turn for the worse but brave Pauline battled through the worst of the disease and was discharged from the Royal Free Hospital on Saturday, free of the virus.

“I am just happy to be alive,” she said. “I still don’t feel 100 per cent, I feel quite weak, but I’m looking forward to going home.

“I want to say a big thank you to the staff who treated me – they were amazing. They were always very reassuring and I knew I was in the best hands. They saved my life.

“As I was beginning to recover, I listened to lots of music when I was in the HLIU and that was a massive help. I also had lots of Irn Bru to help me through!” Speaking to the BBC after she was released from hospital, Pauline admitted that her fight against Ebola took a lot out of her.

“I pretty much lost a week of my life that I just can’t remember,” she said. “There was a point which I remember clearly saying, ‘That’s it, I’ve had enough.’ I just want to see my friends and family. I just want to go back to my normal job and normal life and I think my family would be happy with that as well.” Dr Michael Jacobs, who led the infectious diseases team that cared for Pauline, said, “We are delighted that Pauline has recovered and is now well enough to go home. I am very proud of the staff who have been caring for her. It is because of the skill and hard work of the entire team that she is now able to go home.” Cowdenbeath MSP Alex Rowley was delighted with Pauline’s recovery.

“I watched her interview and I think she is a very brave lady,” he said. “I spoke before about how we all go about our daily lives and don’t know that there are people in our communities who put themselves in personal danger to help others.

“I know people in the community were genuinely praying for her, thinking of her and wishing her well. I was very pleased to see she had recovered and it’s good that she’s now back on the mend.

“I wish her well for the future and I continue to think of everyone in our communities who go out and help others while putting themselves at risk – they are unsung heroes.” Crossgates Community Council chair Robert Arnott added, “I’m happy she’s out of the hospital and able to look forward to the future. It’s nice to see her back on the mend.”