London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Oct 12, 2026

Brit, 29, thought ‘coronavirus was bull***t’ but is now 'paying the price’

Brit, 29, thought ‘coronavirus was bull***t’ but is now 'paying the price’

A British tourist who used to think coronavirus was ‘bull***t’ has posted a powerful video message from his intensive care bed.

Chris Grailey, 29, thought he was ‘invincible’ but is now breathing with an oxygen mask in hospital after catching the virus on holiday in Spain.

The sales manager from Ancoats, Manchester, has no underlying health conditions and admitted he was the ‘first to say (coronavirus) was all bulls**t’.

Now he is unsure he will ‘come out the other side’ and wants other young people to learn from his mistakes and take the virus seriously.



In the video message, a breathless Chris says: ‘I caught it in Tenerife thinking I was invincible, not wearing a mask.

‘I paid the price. I have got no underlying health issues. I don’t want anyone making the same mistakes as me.

‘Now I’m in intensive care, waiting to get more treatment, and not knowing if I’m coming out the other side.

‘So I really want you to take this message on board because it could happen to anyone, please please take care.’

Chris was speaking from his hospital bed in Watford, where he is based for a work project. He said he fell ill on holiday in the Canary Islands last week.

He was diagnosed with coronavirus and acute pneumonia three days ago.

Chris said: ‘I was ill for most of the holiday – lost my taste, smell, had cold sweats.

‘But it got a lot worse on my return home. I was rushed in Sunday morning for tests and scans and sent home on the Sunday night thinking I was okay.

‘I was then rushed in again Tuesday morning straight onto a Covid ward.’

In an emotional social media post, Chris said: ‘The way I have felt in the last week has been as close to hell I have ever been – I honestly sat there and was ready to just give up.

‘I can’t breathe, walk, move. I’m like a zombie. I am on four different antibiotics, steroids, oxygen 24/7, more holes in my arm than a junkie.

‘The reason I’m showing you all this is because I was the first to say it was all bulls**t and ‘nah f**k it we’re young we won’t get it, it’s only bad flu, government conspiracy bla bla bla’ – wrong!

‘This is REAL, it’s real life killing me. So before you think about going to house parties thinking your invincible getting off your heads sharing £10 notes, look at that picture and imagine it could be you.

‘It can get anyone, I’m 29 with no underlying health conditions. This is serious s**t. Please please wake up guys. There’s more to life than this.

‘I really want the young ones going out and not taking any notice to look at my pictures and think it could be them.

‘I have no underlying health issues and 29 and it’s happened to me. Life is too short to risk your health I have learnt the hard way I don’t want people making the same mistakes I have.’

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Nearly 100,000 NHS Patients Treated in Hospital Corridors as England Braces for Winter Pressures
UK Government Rejects US-Russia Diesel Agreement and Reaffirms Sanctions Against Moscow
UK and Germany Agree to Deepen Security and Economic Cooperation Following Berlin Talks
British Prime Minister Burnham Pledges Closer EU Ties During Visit to Germany
UK Announces New Sanctions on 17 Russia-Linked Entities During Foreign Secretary's Ukraine Visit
UK and Germany Finalize Kensington Treaty to Strengthen Defense and Technology Cooperation
Britain Maintains Diplomatic Mission in East Jerusalem Despite Israeli Closure Deadline
English Councils Push Government to Rethink Proposed Funding Cuts
Scottish Homebuilding Falls to Lowest Level in 11 Years
BBC Chief Matt Brittin Defends Restructuring as Staff Challenge Job Cuts
UK Finance Warns High Energy Costs and Bond Yields Are Complicating Fiscal Outlook
UK Adopts All 44 Recommendations on Regulating AI in Healthcare
Chancellor John Healey Prepares Autumn Budget as Borrowing Costs Strain Public Finances
UK Investigators See Strong Indications of Iranian Link After RAF Fairford Security Operation
Laura Trott Pledges Tighter Controls on Political Activism in UK Classrooms
Welsh Ministers Launch Long-Term Review of North Wales and Anglesey Crossings
Welsh Government Orders 18-Month Study of Road Solutions Around Newport
Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin Faces Scrutiny Over £800,000 Second Home Purchase
British Households Grow More Concerned About Fuel and Energy Prices
NHS Leaders Warn of Rising Winter Pressure on Emergency Departments
Kemi Badenoch Proposes £2.3 Billion Employer National Insurance Cut for Young Workers
Middle East Conflict Could Erase UK Fiscal Headroom, Economists Warn
Manchester City Found Guilty of Multiple Premier League Financial Rule Breaches
UK Security Services Find Strong Indications of Iranian Role in RAF Fairford Incident
Costa Coffee Returns to Operating Profit on Iced Drinks and Menu Changes
Asos Warns Customers After Unauthorized Access to Retail App and Data
Kemi Badenoch Puts Growth and Deregulation at Center of Conservative Conference
Campaigners Warn of Deepening Social Care Crisis for Disabled Adults
Study Finds Rising Early-Onset Cancer Rates Among Adults Under 50 in Britain
UK Coach Operators Warn High Diesel Prices Could Force Route Cuts
FCA Opens Independent Review Into Handling of Epstein-Linked Whistleblower Case
Argentina Vows to Block Falkland Islands Offshore Oil Development
UK Chancellor Prepares Fiscal Measures and Welfare Reforms Ahead of Autumn Budget
Sainsbury’s and Morrisons Explore Potential Multi-Billion-Pound Merger
UK Weighs Tariffs on Chinese Electric Vehicles to Align With European Union
UK Threatens Diplomatic Expulsions Over Planned Closure of East Jerusalem Consulate
UK Energy Price Cap Hits Three-Year High as Middle East Conflict Raises Costs
Seventh Arrest Made in Suspected Terror Plot at RAF Fairford
Systemic Education Collapse Sparks Mass Student Uprisings in France
Green Party Faces Backlash Over Resolution Equating Zionism With Racism
Conservatives Debate Scrapping Environmental Rules for New Homes
Cornwall Insight Warns UK Energy Bills Could Approach £2,000 This Winter
UK Coach Operators Warn of Service Cuts as Diesel Prices Exceed £2
Scottish Parliament Approves £68 Billion Budget With New Tax and Property Measures
FCA Opens Independent Review Into Handling of Epstein Whistleblower
UK Government Drops Plan to Suspend Jury Trials in England and Wales
Bank of England Holds Interest Rate at 3.75% as Markets Watch November
Two Iranian Nationals Charged Over Alleged Plot Targeting Manchester Jewish Community
UK Fiscal Headroom Halves to £11 Billion Ahead of Budget, EY Warns
US Bomber Withdrawal From RAF Fairford Prompts UK Security Review
×