Mum who survived coronavirus warns people not to bend rules to party this New Year's Eve

A MUM who battled through coronavirus and was given an uplifting message by a pop star during her fight for survival has urged people not to act recklessly this New Year’s Eve and warned: ‘Two minutes of fun could ruin your life.’
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Sam Emmonds spent five weeks in Queen Alexandra Hospital, in Cosham, at the peak of the pandemic after initially being admitted when she was short of breath.

Being placed in an induced coma for two weeks, medics had warned the 44-year-old mum-of-two's husband, Dennis, she could die on two occasions.

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Despite fears from medics, Sam managed to pull through, with Wet Wet Wet frontman, Marti Pellow, even recording a special message for her.

Pictured left to right: Oli Emmonds, 11, dad Dennis, 45, mum Sam Emmonds - who survived coronavirus - and her daughter Libbie, nine.Pictured left to right: Oli Emmonds, 11, dad Dennis, 45, mum Sam Emmonds - who survived coronavirus - and her daughter Libbie, nine.
Pictured left to right: Oli Emmonds, 11, dad Dennis, 45, mum Sam Emmonds - who survived coronavirus - and her daughter Libbie, nine.

But today she has revealed her war with the virus has not ended for herself or her loved ones, with five members of her family now battling the infection.

And as swathes of England were last night plunged into tighter lockdown rules in a bid to curb the spread of a more infectious version of the virus, Sam has urged people to stick to the rules.

Speaking to those considering parties this evening, Sam, of Cobden Avenue, Copnor, said: ‘Just don’t. It’s just not worth the risk. Those few hours of having drinks with your mates or being close to other people could kill someone you love.

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Mum-of-two Sam Emmonds, 44, who survived coronavirus, has warned people not to party and mingle during New Year's Eve.`Mum-of-two Sam Emmonds, 44, who survived coronavirus, has warned people not to party and mingle during New Year's Eve.`
Mum-of-two Sam Emmonds, 44, who survived coronavirus, has warned people not to party and mingle during New Year's Eve.`
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‘I get everyone wants to see the back of this year and celebrate a new year, hoping it will be a million times better, but it won’t be if your husband, or son, your mum, your dad, your nan or wife gets it and ends up like I did – or worse.’

Her warning came as three-quarters of England was placed under tier four restrictions – just a few days before the Covid-19 vaccine from Oxford University and AstraZeneca is rolled out nationwide.

Health secretary Matt Hancock announced the tougher measures were needed as the daily number of Covid deaths reached nearly 1,000 – the highest since April – with more than 50,000 confirmed cases.

Former health minister Caroline Dinenage said the latest Covid figures were ‘sobering’ and that the NHS was now under ‘unbearable pressure’.

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‘I’m as fed up as everyone else, I know it’s tempting to bend the rules on New Year’s Eve – but quite simply we’ll only beat the virus if everyone does their bit and sticks to the rules,’ the Gosport MP told The News last night.

And health bosses at Queen Alexandra Hospital have warned infection rates are still soaring, piling on more pressure on staff.

Dr John Knighton, medical director at Portsmouth Hospitals University Trust, urged people to ‘really seriously think’ and ‘minimise all contact with others’.

‘We are in a period where the numbers of cases of Covid are rising rapidly at our hospital and we know they’re going to continue to rise for some time until the tier four restrictions start to have an effect,’ he said.

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‘Our staff have been working flat out across many areas of the hospital. Most areas of the hospital now are working way beyond their normal capacity.

‘I’d ask you all to think about that, to celebrate responsibly and to remember that we all have a role in protecting our NHS for those who really need it and to remember “hands, space and face” at all times.’

Speaking during a Downing Street briefing last night, Boris Johnson said the public must ‘redouble’ its efforts at this ‘critical moment’, before adding he was confident things will be ‘very much better’ by April 5.

‘All of these measures in the end are designed to save lives and protect the NHS,’ the PM said. ‘For that very reason, I must ask you to follow the rules where you live tomorrow night and see in the new year safely at home.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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