Argentinian man with Down syndrome and cancer defeats COVID-19

A 33-year-old man from Argentina who has Down syndrome and is undergoing treatment for cancer has been released from hospital after recovering from coronavirus.

Footage showed medics at Hospital Independcia in Santiago del Estero applauding on Friday (September 18th) as Javier Villalba walked out of the ward where he was being treated.

His mother said she had feared he wouldn't survive the virus.

"Many nights he cried, because the first days he was not very well, it was difficult for him to breathe," recalled Segunda Villalba, who also had COVID-19 and was hospitalized with her son.

"This disease is horrible, very ugly, we were shocked, but thanks to all the health personnel, today we can say that we have defeated this virus," she added.