A CORONAVIRUS survivor who spent five days in intensive care has warned others to take the pandemic seriously as he recovers from being on “death’s door”.

Steve Kelly is now recovering at home after being rushed to Worcestershire Royal Hospital with the deadly virus and fearing the worst.

The 58-year-old said he had become complacent before he caught Covid, and says he feels relief he didn't pass it onto his sons when he unknowingly had it.

Mr Kelly said: "Early on no one knew anyone who had had it, and the only person I knew who had actually had it was my brother in Birmingham.

"It was like something that was happening, but it wasn't in my back yard.

"I took all the precautions, but I think I maybe got a little complacent. I presume it was too close contact with somebody.

"I had suspicions about how serious Covid was, I thought it was largely exaggerated."

When he got the positive test, and was self isolating at his home in Whittington Road, he had to tell his three sons, Jack, 17, Alex, 14, and Sam, 12.

"I saw my sons two days before my positive test, and had felt fine at that point and didn't know I had Covid," he said.

"They tested negative, so I didn't feel the guilt of passing it on to someone else.

"But I was lucky. It shows how dangerous it is, I could have easily passed it on to them."

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Mr Kelly said he had been a "typical man" at an early stage thinking an early night would fix it, and even after getting the positive test he said he didn't fully admit how bad he was feeling.

"Eventually my friends could tell how difficult I was finding it to breathe, and they phoned 999 to get me an ambulance," Mr Kelly said.

"I was in Worcestershire Royal, I wondered with some bewilderment what all the fuss was.

"It appeared the oxygen level in my blood was dangerously low, a quick X-ray showed that my lungs were severely impacted as Covid wreaked its havoc.

"Within hours I was in intensive care wearing a very uncomfortable oxygen mask, and connected to machines and tubes.

"I have been asked a lot if I ever feared death, but I have to say I didn't because I was conscious throughout. I didn't feel threatened by it as I knew I was in safe hands with the hospital staff.

"They were all friendly, their banter and friendly eyes made me feel better.

"Five long days followed, punctuated by the beeps of monitoring equipment. I was totally incapacitated.

"I never knew how upset family and friends were, it appears it was touch and go for a while, but I was not aware what was happening. My friend, she was in bits, and my family were really, really worried.

"Eventually I left the intensive ward, and it was then all about rehabilitation.

"I’d lost two stone in weight but I could have lost a lot more.

"When I first tried to walk I was stunned how weakened I was. I can walk now, but I still wouldn't be able to do two to three miles walks like I used to be able to."

The self employed data analyst, who had worked with the NHS as part of his job, said he could not thank hospital staff enough for what they did for him.

"I won't hear a bad word about them, everyone from the cleaners to the consultants would spend a few minutes chatting with you," he said.

"That it what made my experience bearable.

"There is a fantastic bunch of staff at Worcester who will virtually hold your hand and do their best to get you through.

"Help them out, stay safe, stay home, get vaccinated as soon as you are asked.

"Covid is dangerous, it can do you serious harm, avoid it at all costs.

"My journey had a happy ending, you or someone you love may not be so lucky."