‘I had suicidal thoughts’ — UK-based Nigerian singer narrates battle with COVID-19

Juwon Olorunnipa, a UK-based Nigerian singer better know as Jumabee, has narrated his near-death battle with COVID-19, adding that he had contemplated suicide.

The 31-year-old musician took to his Instagram page on Sunday to recount how he developed symptoms of the virus but thought it was malaria since he had just arrived the UK from Nigeria.

With UK hospitals already overwhelmed by COVID-19 cases, Jumabee said a team of paramedics, who came to his aid, had suggested that he sought the services of private medical facilities.

Jumabee said he would later black out due to the delay in getting medical help after suffering fever, body pain, and difficulties in breathing that left him gasping for air.

“Two weeks ago, I developed a high fever, severe headache, and body pains. I thought it was malaria, being that I had just come in from Nigeria so I started treating malaria,” he wrote.

“But, three days later, my health got worse. I lost appetite, became very weak. I couldn’t even sit up let alone stand or walk. At this point, I was thinking, ‘hope this is not COVID-19’ understanding that the UK was a high burden zone.

“I wasn’t coughing at the time, so I tried to convince myself it was probably a bacterial infection. I started taking antibiotics, along with paracetamol and a lot of water but still no improvement.

“We called the ambulance consistently for 3 days but there was no response and even the times they responded, they said they were very busy and could not come. On the third day, they finally showed up.

“I was already battling for my life. I could no longer breathe properly. I was gasping for breath. Just before the doctors arrived, I collapsed. I was literally gone. My friends had to perform CPR on me.

“When the paramedics finally came, they confirmed it was COVID-19 but said they couldn’t take me to the hospital because all the hospitals were filled up and the NHS was overly overwhelmed.

“They said even if they took me to the hospital, I would most likely get worse because of the conditions there. So they recommended I stayed at home and fight for my life.

“After they left, I started having suicidal thoughts, nothing mattered anymore.

“I got even worse, cough started alongside severe diarrhea. My skin began to peel. Something just had to be done. With help, we found a private hospital, after days of search and I was stabilized.

“On returning home after testing negative, I looked at myself in the mirror and couldn’t believe my eyes. I had lost so much weight. I started crying because I had thought that was the end for me.”

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MY EASTER TESTIMONY: HE IS RISEN THEREFORE I AM RISEN HOW I AROSE FROM COVID-19 🦠🦠🦠 I am sharing my story firstly to testify to the goodness of God and also to lend my voice to the numerous ongoing covid-19 campaigns. About 2 weeks ago I developed high fever, severe headache and body pains, I thought it was malaria being that I had just come in from Nigeria so I started treating malaria but 3 days later my health got worse, I lost my appetite and became very weak. I couldn’t even sit up let alone stand or walk. At this point I was thinking hope this is not covid 19 understanding that the UK was a high burden zone, but as I wasn’t coughing at the time, I tried to convince myself it was probably a bacterial infection so I started taking antibiotics, along with paracetamol and a lot of water but still no improvement then I certainly knew I needed help. We called the ambulance consistently for 3 days but there was no response and even the times they responded, they said they were very busy and could not come. On the third day, they finally showed up, but at this moment, I was already battling for my life, I could no longer breathe properly, I was gasping for breath. Just before the doctors arrived that day I collapsed, I was literally gone. My friends had to perform CPR on me to resuscitate me. When the paramedics finally came, they confirmed it was covid 19 but that they couldn’t take me to the hospital because all the hospitals were filled up and the NHS was overly overwhelmed, they said even if they took me to the hospital, I would most likely get worse because of the conditions there so they recommended I stayed at home and fight for my life. After they left, I started having suicidal thoughts, nothing mattered anymore. I got even worse, cough started along with severe diarrhea, my skin began to peel too. Something just had to be done, with the help of many, we found a private hospital after days of search where I was stabilized for days. On returning home after testing negative. I looked at myself in the mirror and couldn’t believe my eyes, I had lost so much weight, I started crying because I had thought that was the end for me but God gave me

A post shared by JUMABEE (@jumabee) on Apr 12, 2020 at 1:55am PDT

COVID-19 has claimed the lives of over 10,000 people in the United Kingdom with more than 84,000 cases confirmed.