A Scots man has issued a grave warning after spending days in intensive care having not made getting his vaccine a "priority".
Neil Matthews, from Paisley, who is due to get married on Sunday, was struck down with the virus after returning from a holiday to Ibiza with friends in July.
Just two days after returning home, on July 18, he began to feel unwell before testing positive for the virus two days later following a PCR test.
By Friday, the fit and healthy 30-year-old was suffering from breathing difficulties and went into hospita l but chose to return home where his condition rapidly deteriorated.
Speaking to the Daily Record, he said: "I went to Ibiza, which was on the green list, with two mates. When I came home I didn't feel very well and got tested, which I had to do anyway.
"I tested positive and from there I just plummeted. At first it was just a temperature and sore heads, it wasn't my breathing.
"Then my breathing started to get really bad so I went up to hospital and they were wanting to keep me in but my Mrs had just tested positive and I didn't want to leave her alone.
"I lay about unwell all weekend and on Monday I completely crashed and was back in the hospital."
Within days Neil's oxygen levels dropped dangerously low and he was transferred to intensive care at Royal Alexandra Hospital where he remained for six days as doctors battled to keep him alive.
"My oxygen levels dropped with only 20 per cent of my lungs functioning and I ended up in intensive care for six days and nearly passed away and spent another five in the high dependency unity.
"I was out the game most of the time but they were speaking about putting me in an induced coma and I begged them not to.
"I managed to avoid that and I'm glad because the recovery would have been even longer."
Neil, who has no underlying health conditions, recalls five other people in intensive care being in induced comas and realised he was the youngest there 'by about 30 years'.
The groom, who runs his own business Bespoke Solutions, has lost one and a half stone while in hospital and is facing a long road to recovery.
"Physically I'm getting better but I still can't get my round my head what has happened. I don't smoke and I'm only a sociable drinker, I have a physical job and doctors confirmed I have no underlying health conditions.
"This is why the consultants said you know it shows it can happen to anyone", he said.
The 30-year-old did not have either dose of the vaccine when he contracted Covid and regrets not getting the jab as a priority.
He said: "I wasn't against the vaccines but we've just moved into my mother-in-law's after buying a house and were planning the wedding.
"I didn't prioritise it between running my business, refurbishing a house and our wedding and because the vaccine letter probably went to my old address, it wasn't in front of me and I didn't get it booked in.
"Unfortunately, I just put others things before it. I did plan to get it. It was very naive of me."
Neil's two friends who had also been on the holiday tested positive for the virus but had had one dose of the vaccine and did not become seriously ill.
In a warning to people, Neil said: "I don't want force anyone to take the vaccine but if this ever comes chapping on your door you're going to be full of regrets if you don't listen to the right people."
He revealed that a number of friends have been in contact to say that they have got the vaccine since he shared his frightening experience.
He continued: "There were people in the hospital in their sixties who had Covid but had the vaccines but could get up and walk about, I couldn't even go to the toilet.
"It showed by the vaccines has got to help and everyone should get it.
"If you don't want to get it that's your choice but don't listen to conspiracy theorists because it's the experts that are going to save your life, not the people sitting on social media."
Neil and his fiance Rachael Kennedy, 29, are set to go ahead with their wedding at Lochside House Hotel on Sunday and say it will be 'even more special' after recent weeks.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
