Board of Deputies VP reveals 'life-changing' Covid experience

Mr Shuker said the experience had reinforced his view that community members should take all necessary precautions against the virus, abide by lockdown rules and get vaccinated against Covid.

“You’re thinking that you’re healthy, you’re invincible,” he reflected. “You’ve got a home, a family, a car.”

Then suddenly, “you are reduced to one thing, [trying] to breathe normally. That’s all you have in mind, nothing else.”

Mr Shuker said he felt “very safe and very well taken care of” in hospital and thanked NHS staff for their round-the-clock care.

“I was sleeping very soundly knowing I didn’t need to watch the oximeter. I’m so unbelievably grateful to these people.”

He now felt “very good most of the time” although there were some lingering side effects, such as fatigue.