AN OAP hospitalised with coronavirus was able to meet his newborn great-granddaughter for the first time - via video call.

Alex Weir, 83, was devastated when he was admitted to hospital with Covid-19 and feared he might never meet his granddaughter Hannah's new baby.

Hannah, 26, was expected to give birth to baby Cora around the time her granddad was admitted to hospital.

READ MORE: Manhunt launched for masked thug who raided Pollok shop by threatening worker with knife

Nurses set up a video call using an iPad, in University Hospital Wishaw, in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, so he could meet the tot, who was born on April 23.

His daughter, Fiona, 47, said: "Dad had pneumonia in January and had been unwell following this with recurrent chest issues.

“He had been poorly since the pneumonia and was not picking up.

“Due to social distancing rules during Covid-19, we had only been able to see Dad from the door or through the window.

“On Saturday, April 18, we got a call from his carers to say he was not good.

“We went to visit him and he looked terrible - he had a fever and was pale and was confused. I got a real fright.

“Dad was admitted to University Hospital Wishaw, with what we thought was a chest infection.

“However, he tested positive for Covid-19 the next day.

“He says he knew he was unwell and might not make it but wasn’t ready to go.

“He wanted home and to see his new great-grandchild, who was due soon.”

Fiona, who works for the NHS trust which cared for her father, had offered to give medics a paper copy of a picture for him to look at.

READ MORE: Police say no report of break-in at Rangers' Ibrox Stadium despite video of Celtic fan in ground

She said: “Since my Dad doesn’t have a smartphone, I printed a picture of Cora and asked the staff to pass it onto him.

“However, the nurse I spoke to offered to set up a video call for us on the ward iPad.

“Dad was able to have a video chat with myself and his two granddaughters.

“Most importantly, he was able to meet baby Cora for the first time.

“Dad was so happy to see his family and to meet the brand new addition.

“It was brilliant to finally be able to see his face and see how he was recovering.”

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon sets out plans to get people in Scotland back to work as latest cases revealed

Alex, from Carluke, South Lanarkshire, was discharged from hospital on May 5.

Fiona added: "Dad is doing really well. He is looking forward to a time when he can hold his new great-grandchild.

“I can’t thank the staff in ward eight enough. They were fantastic and so good with us all.”