'Refusing the vaccine is the biggest mistake of my life'
Bradford man 'stared death in the eyes' after ending up in hospital with covid-19
60 year old Abderrahmane Fadil was taken by ambulance to Bradford Royal Infirmary from his home earlier this month, after struggling to breathe.
When medical staff were taking him to the ambulance his children were stood watching and crying.
The father of two says he kept putting off getting the vaccine, as he wanted to wait and see what impact it would have on society first.
"I was staring at death, I can never forget that feeling."
He said:
"That's my deepest regret, that's the biggest mistake I've done in my life. I've made many mistakes in my life, but that wouldn't cost me my life, this one nearly did."
"I've taken every possible step to be away from the vaccine, that's what I was doing, I found work alibis, I'm busy etc.
"I literally was on the verge of death at the house, I was staring at death, I can never forget that feeling."
Staff at Bradford Royal Infirmary told Mr Fadil he's lucky to be alive today.
He was in ICU for a total of 9 days.
"From day 1 I was taken in gasping for air, I couldn't breath. Any face that I stared at, there was a big cry from inside, please give me some air, because I couldn't talk, I was like a fish out of water.
"No matter how much I can thank the doctors, nurses and staff, I can never do them justice, they really took care of me, beyond outstanding, they really, really looked after me."
Earlier this week, Sajid Javid said the vaccines were working, including against the Delta variant.
He said:
"The latest modelling from PHE shows that they have saved over 27,000 lives and have prevented over seven million people from getting Covid-19.
"Two doses of the vaccine are just as effective against hospital admission with the Delta variant compared to the Alpha variant.
"While cases now are ticking up, the number of deaths remains mercifully low."