Dave Smith, a 76-year-old man from Bristol, passed away peacefully at home on April 1, 2025, following a prolonged struggle with various health issues.

Smith gained international recognition for enduring one of the longest recorded cases of Covid-19, lasting 290 consecutive days, which began in May 2020.

Throughout his illness, he faced significant challenges, being hospitalized seven times and losing 10 stone (63.5 kg), which left him with only 51% lung capacity and severely weakened.

Describing his Covid experience, Smith likened it to 'someone has pulled the plug and life is just draining out of your body,' reflecting the deep despair he felt during his ordeal.

In 2021, after receiving compassionate antiviral treatment from Regeneron, Smith managed to recover from Covid, allowing him to return to his passion for performing.

Despite his health struggles, Smith achieved a remarkable comeback, performing in Bristol and fulfilling his dream of singing on the West End with a Covid choir in 2023.

His extraordinary case was studied by scientists at the University of Bristol, who referred to him as a 'miracle man' for surviving such a prolonged infection and sought to understand Covid's effects and mutations in the human body.