A five-year-old boy dubbed a “miracle child” by doctors is set to be discharged from hospital in time for Christmas, after fighting for his life with Covid.

Little Rupert Moore, who suffers from the one of the world’s rarest illnesses, was rushed from his home in Broomfield to the QEQM when he tested positive for the virus last month.

He was then placed in intensive at the Evelina Hospital in London on November 24, as medics told his mother, Camilla Crick, that her son only had 24 hours to live.

But this week, the brave youngster has been taken off the ventilator, with stunned medics saying he could return to Herne Bay in the next couple of days.

“He should be home by the weekend,” Ms Crick said.

“He’s been called a miracle boy – I still can’t believe it.

“When we first got here, they said he had 24 hours to live.”

Ms Crick says she was given the option of “making Rupert comfortable or putting him in intensive care”, before deciding to move her little boy to the capital.

Rupert, who turned five as he fought for his life in hospital, was hooked up to a ventilator as his condition deteriorated.

“They managed to wean him off it, then he managed to recover. They can’t believe it,” Ms Crick continued.

“He’s happy, smiling and back to being himself.

“We’re hoping he’s totally recovered from it, but you never know with Covid.”

Being the only child in England living rare condition Vici Syndrome, his mother was told by experts he would die by the age of four from complications associated with the illness.

Only about 100 cases of the incurable condition have been documented around the world, with sufferers typically dying as infants. Just one is known to have survived beyond the age of 11.

Rupert is registered blind, unable to speak, eat, move or hold his head up unassisted – but Ms Crick says this was the first time her son had ever been admitted to intensive care.

A fundraiser was launched last week to generate £2,000 to help her travel to and stay in London to be at her son’s bedside.

Within days, it eclipsed the target, with the total currently standing at almost £3,300.