A man who was the first patient to survive COVID-19 at a Cumbrian hospital, after almost losing his life, has made an impassioned plea for everyone to get vaccinated against the virus.
Nigel Coles, now 58, was admitted to the Cumberland Infirmary in March last year with coronavirus and was soon sent to intensive care as his condition worsened.
He was discharged after seven gruelling days in hospital but spent months dealing with the after effects of the virus.
After the latest easing of restrictions by the Government, Nigel is now making a plea for people to protect themselves by getting a vaccine.
“I was told I might not last the night. The most horrendous words you can hear,” said Nigel, who lives on Watersedge at Southwaite Green Mill, near Penrith.
“I might never have woken up.
“The whole family was in tears. When I was on the phone and I told my brother I was positive, I could hear him crying.”
Nigel was admitted to hospital after his brother — who is a paramedic — called for help.
“I was hallucinating and I just wanted to sleep. My brother called an ambulance which came and I was put on oxygen,” said Nigel.
“I was taken to Carlisle. I wasn’t allowed to see relatives and I was in a poor condition. I woke up in intensive care.
“I was told I had a 50/50 chance to survive. I woke up in the same bed with a very high temperature. I cried like a baby, and I’m not sad to admit it.”
As well as headaches Nigel also suffered from shivering, continual coughing and his chest felt like “beating drums”.
“I felt like Superman with kryptonite round my neck,” he said.
He realised the importance of raising the profile of vaccines after a chance encounter with a man who had declined the jab having heard anti-vaccine propaganda.
“He started going on about the virus and what a con it is by the Government and how the vaccines are being used to insert trackers into everyone,” he said.
Nigel explained his own experience of the virus and its impact on his life.
“People should know it is important to have your injection,” he said.
After the conversation the man decided he would book a vaccine appointment for him and his wife.
“Get round to a vaccination centre and get your jab and the book your second,” he said, addressing anyone who has not yet been vaccinated.
Feeling lucky to be alive and grateful for the support he received from all of the staff who helped him to beat the virus, Nigel wrote a poem entitled The War on COVID-19.
“It is all about the NHS and how we hit the third world war. In the First and Second World Wars lives were lost and now people on the front line are fighting the war on COVID.”
Nigel says he hopes to soon deliver a bouquet of flowers to the staff that looked after him to say thank you.
“Their care was fantastic,” he said.
