A New Zealander named David Riddington completed his recovery from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in Xi'an, the capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi province on Wednesday.

Riddington, who is the only foreign SARS case identified in the province, was discharged from the hospital along with another patient as the first group of recovered patients since Shaanxi province began reporting SARS cases, according to the First Hospital of prestigious Xi'an Jiaotong University.

Riddington, 39, a resident of London where he works as a gardener in a park, was identified as a suspected SARS patient at Xianyang International airport in the city of Xi'an while touring the ancient city in mid-April. He was sent to the hospital immediately where he received prompt treatment for nearly 20 days.

"I am fully recovered now, and I very much thank the Xi'an doctors and nurses for their immediate and meticulous treatment," said Riddington.

"David cooperated very well with us during the treatment," said Dr. Han Qunying, the doctor in charge of his case, adding, "his case proves that SARS is a curable disease."

Moreover, Riddington said, "I am convinced that the humankind will eventually win the battle against SARS."

(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2003)