Covid: Showaddywaddy singer describes 'brutal' Covid experience
- Published
The former lead singer of Showaddywaddy has advised people to get a vaccination after his "brutal" experience with Covid-19.
Dave Bartram, from Leicester and now living in Nottinghamshire, said he tested positive on 20 January, and "for a month it has been debilitating".
He said: "It bears no relation to flu whatsoever. It is the most brutal virus I have ever experienced."
Leicester's Clinical Commissioning Group has released his video appeal, external.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
In the video, Bartram - who was part of the band famous for hits such as You Got What It Takes and Under the Moon of Love - said: "If you are sceptical, think of others. We want to get back to normality. We want to cuddle people we haven't cuddled for months on end.
"We want to go to football matches, to rock concerts, to festivals, to the pub, to restaurants and the only way to do this is by vaccination."
He said about a week after his wife Cathy tested positive, he began to feel tired and went to a test centre where he was given a positive result.
The next day, he said, he suddenly felt his legs almost go from under him.
The 68-year-old, who lives near Bingham, said: "I collapsed on the sofa and was out cold for a few hours and it was like that on a daily basis for five days."
He said he would sleep for 11 hours then go downstairs to make a cup of tea, and would be exhausted again.
He also had other symptoms like a tight chest, breathing difficulties and a "never-ending cough".
He added: "There was one night where my chest was so, so tight and I was struggling to breathe and we were close to calling for an ambulance."
Bartram said he now felt "about 90%" better.
He added he felt "blessed" both he and his wife had recovered.
The clinical commissioning group thanked the singer for his message and sent him their best wishes.
LOOK-UP TOOL: How many cases in your area?
YOUR QUESTIONS: We answer your queries
GLOBAL SPREAD: How many worldwide cases are there?
THE R NUMBER: What it means and why it matters
TEST AND TRACE: How does it work?
Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, external, Twitter, external, or Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk.
Related topics
- Published8 October
- Published21 February 2021
- Published17 November 2018