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Stephen Hawking's family have donated his ventilator to the Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge to help treat coronavirus patients.
The famous physicist's daughter, Lucy Hawking, said the NHS had played a "huge part" in their lives.
She added that they are "fully aware of the dedication and commitment of NHS staff", and asked everyone to "support (them) in every way possible" during the
COVID-19
outbreak.
Image:Prof Hawking's book A Brief History of Time sold 10m copies
She also urged people to take social distancing seriously, saying: "We all need to do our bit, whatever that may be."
Ms Hawking said all the medical equipment her father used that belonged to the NHS was returned after he died at the
age of 76 in 2018
. He had contracted motor neurone disease in 1963 aged 21.
But there were also some items the professor - whose book A Brief History of Time sold 10m copies - bought for himself.
"We are now passing them to the NHS in the hope they will help in the fight against COVID-19," his daughter said.
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The critical care department at the Royal Papworth Hospital has been expanded to more than double its usual size to cope with
coronavirus
admissions.
After being checked by the hospital's clinical engineering team, Professor Hawking's ventilator has been added to its fleet.
Additional ventilators have also been supplied by the NHS.
Dr Mike Davies, clinical director for respiratory medicine at Papworth, said: "It was lovely to hear from the Hawking family again and we are so grateful for them for donating this equipment."
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Lucy Hawking said: "Our father received brilliant, dedicated and compassionate medical care from both Royal Papworth and Addenbrooke's Hospitals in Cambridge.
"As a ventilated patient, Royal Papworth was incredibly important to my father and helped him through some very difficult times.
"We realised that it would be at the forefront of the COVID-19 epidemic and got in touch with some of our old friends there to ask if we could help."
She added: "As a family, the NHS has always played a huge part in our lives.
"We are fully aware of the dedication and commitment of NHS staff to helping people in need.
"At this time, we would ask that everyone supports NHS staff in every way possible."
