A 39-year-old dad battling coronavirus in intensive care has urged everyone to stay at home.
Matt Dockray, of Marlow, Buckinghamshire, said he has been feeling ill for three weeks, reports ExaminerLive.
His wife dialled 999 after his health began to deteriorate and he is now receiving treatment in intensive care as his lungs begin to fail.
Matt, who works in the live venues sector, wrote on Facebook: "I have been ill for three weeks, from a small cough on the day I watched football at Wembley on 1 March, to chills, fever and headache as we opened our new venue in London.
Read more of today's top stories
“Day by day, I felt hungover and cr*p, but I carried on like a true hero, ignoring every bit of family advice.
“The doctors asked if I had been to China and that was enough to disregard Covid-19 and for them to tell me that I may have a seasonal virus, but they gave me some antibiotics just in case.
“I didn’t leave the couch for the next five days, and I was struggling to stay awake and breathe properly.
“It took two hours and still no answer from 111, and each day it got worse.
“Finally, my wife couldn’t listen to me anymore and called an ambulance.”
The seriousness of Matt's illness then became clear as doctors in hazmat suits told Matt he could have Covid-19.
He continued: “Within an hour, I was blue-lighted into a military operation, where doctors in hazmat suits told me that they thought I had Covid-19 – and that I was critically ill.
“They were going to call my wife and family and explain that I would have to be put to sleep, and then put on a ventilator, as my lungs were failing and would be going into respiratory arrest.
“Those who know me know I like a challenge, and from that moment have been fighting with every breath on the promise that until I pass out, I’m to stay awake to fight this with everything I can.
“Three days later, I have started to stabilise - it’s not that I’m getting much better, it’s just that I’m not getting any worse.”
On Monday evening Boris Johnson introduced stricter measures in the UK, with people facing fines if they do not abide to the new rules.
And Matt has echoed those concerns, urging his fellow Brits – “don’t be an idiot”.
He added: “It gives me the opportunity to warn each and every one of you who thinks they are invincible, or who are breaching every bit of advice to go out for no reason.
“On an hourly basis, I am watching the rooms marked with a laminated red rose - identifying those critical with Covid-19 - empty as their family say goodbye through the glass.
“For everyone who thinks they might just get a cough and mild symptoms, or who thinks they have had it so they will be fine, please don’t be an idiot.
“I wouldn’t wish this on any enemy. I even recorded a video to my wife and child to say goodbye because at one point I nearly gave up due to the pain and the fear.
“I’m 39, and no poster boy for men’s health, but if I can end up like this now, so can anyone reading it.
“This isn’t for sympathy or attention - I’ve got every bit of positivity coming right at me from those closest and dearest.
“Every word of encouragement equals a rescue breath to getting better.
“This is for those that need a kick in the ar*e to stay out of the way - stop panic buying, stop risking loved ones - do as you’re told and let nature take its course.”
Drop a heart on our special map of gratitude to show your support for our NHS heroes.
