102-year-old Nikolai Bagayev, a Russian World War two veteran, cheated death twice. Once in 1941 when the enemy was known and could be seen and this time it was deadly microscopic virus, COVID-19. According to Reuters, coronavirus damaged 80% of Bagayev’s lungs when he was admitted to hospital in Korolyov near Moscow.

He was discharged on Thursday evening after a month in hospital, including a week in intensive care, Bagayev was discharged on Thursday evening.

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“The last time I faced death was in 1941. Back then, my right lung was injured during the battle for Moscow. But I was rather young at the time and managed to recover promptly,” he told Reuters.

Thanking the doctors, he said he had lost hope and courage but they saved him. 

Bagayev, who is one a shrinking group of veterans revered in Russia for their role in defeating Nazi Germany, took part in the annual victory parade alongside President Vladimir Putin earlier this year.

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Bagayev has lived through many of the now defunct Soviet Union’s tumultuous chapters and was twice wounded during the war – once gravely. 

The veteran’s doctor Valentina Rakitskaya told Reuters, the 102-year-old is a real trooper, adding his war-time wound memories helped him recover from COVID.

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After the war, Bagayev was part of Baikonur cosmodrome, which sent the first man into space, Yuri Gagarin, in 1961. A breathing technique that he had learnt from Soviet cosmonauts helped him recover from COVID-19, said the veteran.

He said he will help Russia’s opposition Communist party campaign ahead of a parliamentary election in September, but first his goal was to start walking again without help.