A vaccine sceptic who urged others to their jab while he battled the virus in intensive care has sadly died of Covid.
Brian Lynch, 46, wanted more long-term scientific data before getting his jab.
The removal firm boss was admitted to Royal Blackburn Hospital on July 7.
During his time in intensive care, he vowed to get the jab if he recovered.
Brian, of Blackburn, Lancs., was later placed in a medically induced coma and died with his family and wife Gina by his side on July 31.
Pal Nicky Ashton had organised a pub fundraiser to help support Brian when he got home.
Lynch in a Facebook post said, “Last week I wasn’t feeling well and despite what I think about testing, Covid vaccines etc, I sent off for a PCR test more out of the interest of my family, friends and business customers. It came back positive.”
Lynch continued that he thought the vulnerable and elderly would be hospitalised, but not him.
“I found out the hard way,” he explained.
“On Friday evening I was coughing badly that much I could not get my breath at all, my oxygen levels went down to 52% and I seriously thought i’m not gonna get my breath it’s the most frightened i’ve ever been, I felt like I was gonna suffocate in my own body.”
He told his friends on Facebook that he had been admitted to ICU and had been on a ventilator since he had arrived, explaining he was “trying to strengthen his lungs up.”
He warned others on Facebook: “To anyone that may have similar sort of thoughts to this (as) what I had I just have to say this – I hope it doesn’t get you.”
He said he “thought he was on deaths door” but hoped to be out soon.
A few days later on July 12 he wrote: “Well been awake since 4.45am, woke up coughing fit again, just managed to calm down after nearly an hour. This Covid cough really is brutal can’t wait for it to dissipate. Can’t catch ya breath with it, just takes all your energy.”