Irish Sky News correspondent Enda Brady hit back at online trolls who ‘abused’ him for doing media interviews during his Covid battle as he opened up about the ‘dark’ time recovering from the virus.
The Wexford native shocked RTE listeners last month, when he took to Today with Claire Byrne to reveal the frightening extent of his symptoms after contracting the Delta variant.
The super fit marathon runner later went on to appear on Virgin Media’s Tonight Show with Matt Cooper where he told viewers how the new strain left him bedridden and struggling to breathe, and that his teenage daughter had also tested positive.
The award-winning journalist said he had hoped that highlighting his story would help prevent others from going through the same horror, and promote awareness on the deadly virus.
But instead he was met with vicious trolling online from naysayers questioning his decision to speak publicly.
Speaking on Tuesday, he said: “You know what, a big shout out to everyone in Ireland who took the trouble to abuse me, because you made me stronger, more determined to get through it, and you made me want to get back to the wonderful incredible life I've created for myself in England.
“People seemed to think ‘if he is that sick how can he speak?’.
“People on ventilators can speak. I wanted to raise awareness on this awful virus.
“If one more person in Ireland went and got jabbed or fully vaccinated or took more precautions, I took every precaution going and I still ended up incredibly sick to the point that I had to go to hospital one day. That is why I did those interviews.
“I don’t know what it is with people, social media and lockdown has driven people slightly bonkers,” he told Philip Boucher-Hayes on RTE Radio 1.
The reporter returned to work on Monday for the first time since he was struck by the deadly virus almost two months ago and recalled the dark days and nights he spent in isolation in his recovery.
“It has seven weeks to get to where I am now,” he said.
“I am not 100% yet but I am back at work, Monday was my first day back.
“But the Covid Delta experience was awful, absolutely awful.
“It was a horrible experience really.
“It was like something had taken over my body, it was a horrible experience.
“And I went from being race ready to having about 2% of the normal energy I would have.”
The 45-year-old Enniscorthy native, who believes he picked up the virus reporting at Wembley during Euro 2020, added: “It was deeply worrying. I did have to go to a hospital one Sunday in Oxfordshire where I live, to see a doctor and check my lungs but they sent me home.
“There is no cure, no medicine. I was just told to go home and rest.
“It scared me.
“I was confined to my room for ten days and ten nights, and there were some dark days.
“When there is no improvement every morning, and this went on week after week..no improvement whatsoever.
“People talk about this brain fog, and breathing problems, it was very worrying at the time.”
And whilst he won’t be running any marathons yet, he said he’s grateful to have finally got his life back on track.
“We will see. Obviously I’m a reasonably fit person and I was reasonably fast, but I think Covid has taken much of that. I’m about 12 kilos heavier than I was, but I’m just grateful to have my health back, my job back, and my life back really.
“Because I went from being a really active person to being confined to my bedroom.”
“I’m just grateful the whole episode is over now.
“I don’t know if there is any long term lasting damage, but I feel good. I’m working again, and hopefully someday there will be a marathon medal somewhere along the way please god.”
