Vaccine sceptic, 46, dies of Covid after warning ‘anyone with similar thoughts’ to get jab
‘I thought it was just the elderly who got sick’: Vaccine sceptic, 46, dies of Covid a month after sharing Facebook video from his ICU bed warning ‘anyone with similar thoughts’ to go and get jab
- Removal firm boss Brian Lynch wanted more scientific data about the vaccine
- The Blackburn resident fell unwell and vowed to get the jab after he recovered
- But he was placed in a medically-induced coma and died surrounded by family
- He pleaded with others on social media to get the jab or ‘hope it doesn’t get you’
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Removal firm boss Brian Lynch, 46, warned others to get the vaccine from his intensive care bed just before dying from Covid-19
A vaccine sceptic who warned others from his intensive care bed not to delay getting the jab like him has died from coronavirus.
Removal firm boss Brian Lynch, 46, said he was not an anti-vaxxer, but wanted more long-term scientific data before getting the jab.
He was admitted to Royal Blackburn Hospital on July 7 and spent weeks in intensive care, during which he vowed to friends he would get the jab if he recovered.
But Brian, of Blackburn, Lancashire, was later placed in a medically-induced coma and died with his family and wife Gina by his side on July 31.
Close family friend Nicky Ashton had organised a pub fundraiser prior to the tragedy to support Brian ahead of his return home, and the event went ahead as planned on August 1.
Devastated Nicky said: ‘Brian would have wanted the day to go ahead.
‘We filled the pub inside and out – the day turned into a celebration full of love, tears and lots of talk and fond memories of Brian.
‘Most of Blackburn followed his story over the three weeks that Brian was in a coma and almost everyone you spoke to knew of his fight.
‘He really was one of the best people who would help anyone out and he will be missed so much .’
On a Facebook post from July 7, Brian explained how he ‘wasn’t feeling well’ so decided to take a PCR test, ‘despite what I think about testing and Covid vaccines.’
Brian Lynch, who wanted to wait for more data before getting the vaccine, pictured before he fell ill with Covid-19
His wife, Gina Lynch, contracted Covid-19 at the same time and was able to recover from her mild illness at home.
He wrote: ‘I sent off for a PCR test more in the interests of my family, friends and business customers. It came back positive.
‘I’ll be honest, I thought it was the vulnerable and the elderly who got hospitalised.
‘Well, as I found out the hard way, my oxygen levels went down to 52 per cent and I could not get my breath.
‘It’s the most frightened I’ve ever been and I felt like I was being suffocated in my own body.
‘I’m now on ICU in Blackburn and been on a ventilator since I arrived trying to strengthen my lungs up and get my oxygen levels back up.
‘To anyone that may have similar sort of thoughts to this (as) I had, I just have to say this – I hope it doesn’t get you.’
Brian went on to say that he had been put on a ventilator in the intensive care unit, and took a selfie from his hospital bed.
He said he was determined to strengthen his lungs before saying ‘hopefully I’ll be out soon’.
A few days later on July 12 he wrote: ‘Well been awake since 4.45am, woke up coughing fit again, just managed to calm down after nearly an hour.
‘This Covid cough really is brutal can’t wait for it to dissipate. Can’t catch ya breath with it, just takes all your energy.’
Mr Lynch’s funeral will be held at Pleasington Crematorium on August 13.
The procession will pass the Havelock Inn pub, where everyone will be given the opportunity to pay their respects.
Brian Lynch was admitted to The Royal Blackburn Hospital, Lancashire and died after weeks of being treated on the intensive care unit before being put into a medically-induced coma
He wrote: ‘I sent off for a PCR test more in the interests of my family, friends and business customers. It came back positive.
‘I’ll be honest, I thought it was the vulnerable and the elderly who got hospitalised.
‘Well, as I found out the hard way, my oxygen levels went down to 52 per cent and I could not get my breath.
‘It’s the most frightened I’ve ever been and I felt like I was being suffocated in my own body.
Brian, seen pictured on holiday in recent years, urged others from his hospital bed to get the vaccination via his social media posts or ‘hope it doesn’t get you’
‘I’m now on ICU in Blackburn and been on a ventilator since I arrived trying to strengthen my lungs up and get my oxygen levels back up.
‘To anyone that may have similar sort of thoughts to this (as) I had, I just have to say this – I hope it doesn’t get you.’
Brian went on to say that he had been put on a ventilator in the intensive care unit, and took a selfie from his hospital bed.
He said he was determined to strengthen his lungs before saying ‘hopefully I’ll be out soon’.
A few days later on July 12 he wrote: ‘Well been awake since 4.45am, woke up coughing fit again, just managed to calm down after nearly an hour.
‘This Covid cough really is brutal can’t wait for it to dissipate. Can’t catch ya breath with it, just takes all your energy.’
Mr Lynch’s funeral will be held at Pleasington Crematorium on August 13.
The procession will pass the Havelock Inn pub, where everyone will be given the opportunity to pay their respects.
In the UK, 86 million people have now been vaccinated, with nearly 47m – or nearly 90 per cent of the adult population – having received at least one dose.
First vaccines are now being offered to everyone aged 18 and above, as well as children over the age of 12 who are at higher risk from Covid.
There have been 130,585 deaths from Covid-19 since the pandemic began in March 2020.
