A NORTH Wales man has paid tribute to the doctors and nurses who "saved my life" after being given a "50-50 chance" of surviving Covid.

Paul Brooks, 61, is urging people to take coronavirus seriously, describing it as a "killer".

Three weeks ago he was admitted to Wrexham Maelor Hospital with the virus, and after just an hour was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Paul, who has no underlying health conditions, explained: "It hit me hard, within two days of infection I went to hospital after seeing my GP who sent me straight to hospital with my oxygen reading at 68 per cent (the healthy level is between 95-100 per cent).

"After seeing the triage nurse I was sent straight to ICU. There I was fighting this virus for two weeks and the doctor phoned my wife giving me a 50-50 chance of survival.

"I took the vaccine trial as I had nothing to lose - I had two units of plasma with Covid antibodies in it, and from then two units a day and gradually started picking up."

Paul, of Southsea, Wrexham, admits he is "very, very lucky" to be alive.

He said: "There were four of us in the ICU room I was in and I was the lucky one - I survived by the skin of my teeth and the brilliant care I received, the other three were sadly not so lucky.

"But this is the harsh reality of this virus - it's a killer plain and simple."

North Wales Chronicle:

Talking about his experience of having the virus, Paul said: "It's absolutely awful - you can't breath and the only way I can describe it is that it feels like someone's standing on your chest while your trying to breath.

"It makes you so weak and tired."

Paul's message to people is: "Please take this virus seriously - it takes no prisoners, it doesn't discriminate, it just kills.

"Please, please follow the rules - they are there to protect you and our NHS."

Lastly, Paul paid tribute to the doctors and nurses who cared for him.

He said: "I would like to thank the nurses and doctors of Wrexham Maelor critical care unit and the Prince of Wales ward for the care and dedication and help - they saved my life and I will be forever grateful."