A common illness "obliterated" an RAF veteran's health and almost cost him his life.
When Mark Beech was rushed to hospital with breathing problems, he didn't expect to wake up in intensive care more than two weeks later, and that his life would be permanently changed.
Mark had contracted the H1N1 strain of flu, which was putting extreme pressure on his body. Fearing he might not pull through, doctors at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd called his daughters to his bedside twice.
Against all odds, Mark woke up in hospital a fortnight later, surrounded by life-saving equipment and nursing and medical staff in masks and gowns, reports North Wales Live.
As he regained consciousness, he discovered doctors had fitted a tracheotomy in his throat to help support his breathing, but this had left him unable to speak.
Mark was eventually discharged from hospital but says the illness has “obliterated” his life.
“It was a life-changing experience for me. I don’t think I’ll ever recover from it," Mark said.
"The consultant told me if I hadn’t been so strong and had so much willpower then I wouldn’t be here today.” He continued: “I’m very lucky to be here, because I really didn’t realise how serious it was. I lost a month of my life in hospital, and then my way of life when I came out. That’s as simply as I can put it.
“I used to be able to walk on the beach with my daughter and her dog, or we’d go up the Orme in Llandundo or go walking in Betws Y Coed. But that’s all changed now. I can only walk for five or ten minutes before I need to find somewhere to sit down.
"I’m out of breath doing anything, and I get very tired. If I go to the supermarket I need to have a trolley to lean on. I need to get a taxi even to go short distances. I haven’t even just walked around the town centre for such a long time – I would just have to keep stopping.”
Mark, served all over the world with the Royal Air Force Regiment between 1973 and 1997, and managed a number of businesses after leaving the services before moving to North Wales and taking on a role advising on health benefits. He now volunteers with a veterans’ charity.
He spent more than four weeks in hospital and attends regular outpatient appointments for treatment and rehab. He is now encouraging others to protect themselves with a free flu vaccination this winter.
“I could have had a flu jab, but I chose not to because I didn’t think I needed one,” Mark said. "Now I would say to anyone – if you don’t have one you could die, it’s a simple as that.
"Anything that will stop people from getting the flu is a good idea. I know it will help with the pressure on the NHS and on NHS staff too. But the bottom line is this will help you to look after yourself and avoid the flu.”
Free flu and Autumn COVID-19 booster vaccines are available to all adults aged 50 or over, plus priority high-risk groups including health workers, carers and people with underlying health conditions. All children from Reception to Year 11 are also set to be offered a nasal spray flu vaccine at school, with parents urged to look out for more information from their child’s school.
Children who were aged two or three on August 31 2022 will also be invited to receive a spray flu vaccine at their GP surgery. Betsi Cadwaladr immunisations coordinator Leigh Pusey said: “If you are in a priority group then getting your flu vaccine and Autumn COVID-19 booster is crucial.
