Coronavirus: Falkirk fan issues warning - 'Do not take this lightly'.

A Falkirk fan struck down by coronavirus strain COVID-19 has warned people to take its threat seriously.
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Father-of-two Gordon Profit, a well known Falkirk FC supporter and sponsor, fell ill after a skiing trip to Austria last weekend.

After showing symptoms on his return home he was admitted to hospital and confirmed as one of the 1140 people in Britain to have contracted the illness.

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He is now being treated in a high dependency unit in Sheffield, near his home in Yorkshire - the first time he has required a hospital stay in his life.

Coronavirus has spread into a pandemic since first appearing in China late last year.Coronavirus has spread into a pandemic since first appearing in China late last year.
Coronavirus has spread into a pandemic since first appearing in China late last year.

Mr Profit said: "This ain't no bad cold guys, we need to be careful how we manage this going forward."

He added: "It is the worst I have ever felt in my life. I have a raging temperature, I'm breathless and sore to walk anywhere. This disease isn't to be messed with boys and girls.

"Don't try to be kid-on hardmen. This is a dangerous, dangerous disease and people should take the advice seriously and the threat seriously. We've got to get it under control. The most important thing is we listen to advice.

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"The care I've had has been phenomenal. As a country we don't know how lucky we are with the nurses, doctors and paramedics and the trained staff we have in our health service.

Mr Profit has been prominent in Falkirk's supporters' society and fans groups. Picture: Alan Murray.Mr Profit has been prominent in Falkirk's supporters' society and fans groups. Picture: Alan Murray.
Mr Profit has been prominent in Falkirk's supporters' society and fans groups. Picture: Alan Murray.

"I have witnessed the rigmarole the nurses have to go through to treat me. Multiply that on a scale of tens, hundreds, thousands, I don't know how this country is going to cope. So we must follow official advice. Football matches mean nothing. Gatherings at concerts, mean nothing."

After reading online comments regarding the severity of the outbreak and precautions being taken he issued a warning from his hospital bed via social media that fellow fans, 'must not take this lightly'.

He wrote: "I'm dismayed at what I've read. I am in a high dependency unit - I have never had a day in hospital in my life until now. I can't walk any distance and I am on oxygen because I can't breathe.

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"This is not to be messed with. This is dangerous. You must be vigilant and you must follow advice. Do not take this lightly folks, I am warning you all."

Mr Profit runs an office supplies business in the north of England and regularly travels north to watch the Bairns in SPFL League One.

In Scotland there have been 121 confirmed cases, and one person has died as a result of the outbreak. Across the UK 37,746 people have been tested for the illness which presents symptoms inluding a cough, high temperature and/or shortness of breath.