"My body was shutting down – you don't understand how serious flu can be."
October 14, 2024
A North Wales army veteran and father-of-four has told how he spent almost two weeks in an induced coma in intensive care after contracting flu
55-year-old Alan Watson was in hospital for more than a month as staff worked to stop his body shutting down completely.
He says no one can understand what he went through – and few realise how serious flu can be.
Alan is just one of almost 1,000 patients who tested positive for flu at hospitals in North Wales last year. Now the health board is encouraging everyone eligible for the annual NHS flu vaccine to take up their invitation to get protected this winter.
Alan, who served for 12 years and on multiple overseas operations, was on his way into work when a colleague stopped him and told him his lips “looked blue”. He had had a nasty cough, but hadn’t thought it was anything more than a bad cold.
He went to his GP surgery and was found to have very low levels of oxygen in his blood, so rushed to the Emergency Department at Wrexham Maelor Hospital. He can’t remember anything after he was hurried to critical care.
“I missed my twins’ birthdays, missed Christmas, and I’ve still got a scar on my neck from when I had a tracheostomy to help me breathe,” he said.
“My body was shutting down and my organs weren’t working, so I was put in a coma twice or I would have died.
“You don't understand until it happens how serious flu can be, and I don’t think anyone can understand what I went through.”
Alan later found out he had flu, pneumonia and COVID-19. Because he has type 2 diabetes, Alan would have been eligible for the annual NHS flu vaccine – but hadn’t taken it up.
He said: “When I was conscious again, my family came down to see me from Newcastle and I can remember the nurse asking them then, ‘Have you had your flu jab?’
“If someone asks me now, ‘Are you having your flu jab?’ then the answer is ‘Yes, I will.’”
Alan, from Wrexham, is continuing his recovery and attends clinics with specialists at the Maelor, but still has flashbacks to his illness.
Alan’s partner Del is still shocked by how quickly his condition worsened.
“It was so hard to take in,” she said. “It all happened so quickly – from having what we thought was this cough to being in critical care.
“And it's coming round to that time of year now – and bringing back so many of those feelings.”
Reduce your risk of serious illness
NHS flu vaccines are now available for anyone at higher risk of serious illness caused by flu, including everyone aged 65 or over, and people with a wide range of underlying health conditions – including diabetes, asthma, and heart, liver and kidney disease.
Pregnant women, carers and people who work in health and social care are also eligible, and children aged two to 16 are usually offered a painless nasal spray flu vaccine at school or their GP surgery.
Flu vaccines lower your risk of catching the flu, reduce the severity of illness if you do, and reduce your chances of spreading it to others.
An Autumn COVID-19 vaccine will also be offered to people at highest risk, including anyone aged 75 or over and people who have a weaker immune system as a result of a health condition or some medical treatments. Older people and pregnant women may also be called for vaccination against RSV.
Executive Director of Public Health for North Wales Dr Jane Moore said: “Alan’s story shows you can never predict how severely a serious infection like flu could affect you or your loved ones – especially if you or they are older, or have an underlying health condition.
"The best way to reduce your risk of serious illness caused by winter viruses like flu, COVID-19 and RSV is to make sure you take up the offer of vaccination against these viruses. This could help you avoid a nasty and long-lasting bug, or complications which could lead to a long stay in hospital.
"If you or people you care about are eligible for the vaccines please look out for details of your appointment or clinics advertised by your GP surgery – and make sure you attend to get protected this winter."
Full details of eligibility for flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines, and how you or your loved ones can receive them in North Wales are available here.
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