A north-east football boss feared he might die as a case of suspected coronavirus left him feeling like he had “an elastic band around his lungs”.
Boddam United chairman and manager John Eden fell ill about six weeks ago, with symptoms which initially “felt like having a cold”.
The 53-year-old Peterhead resident heeded national health warnings and went into self-isolation by moving into the spare room in case it was Covid-19.
Mr Eden’s GP gave him steroids to help with a cough, but they provided only a temporary reprieve.
Days later, feeling “terrible” and unable to take a deep breath, the asthma sufferer phoned 111 and a doctor from Elgin told him to travel to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI).
The father-of-three described how, when making that drive into the city, he worried that he may never return home to his wife.
Mr Eden said: “It sounds dramatic but when I was speaking about it with my wife, I thought I might not come back out.”
But as he was driving to ARI he received a telephone call suggesting he instead pick up some more steroids and antibiotics in case they had any effect.
The prescriptions did help but it was only a matter of time before his health “took a step back” and he attended at the north-east’s flagship hospital for an “eye-opening” inspection.
Mr Eden said: “I was put in a room that was closed off and staff put on PPE.”
The businessman, who runs JRE Handyman Services, underwent X-rays which ruled out pneumonia and scar tissue on the lungs as causes for his condition.
He considers himself lucky that he was there for only three hours, and did not have to remain in hospital for ongoing treatment.
Mr Eden added: “The service I got there was incredible. I feel lucky because if I did have the virus, I didn’t need hospital treatment for it.”
Now finally on the mend, the local football stalwart has decided to take part in a mammoth fundraising challenge alongside his players to help boost his fitness levels.
The NE Welfare Football Association is amassing cash for the Boddam Recreation Trust and Kirkburn Court Care Home by cycling, running or walking the combined distance to all 42 senior football grounds in Scotland.
Initially, the 22 members of the club set themselves the target of raising £625 by covering the 628 miles to and from grounds near the village south of Peterhead.
However, after smashing the target in three days, they decided to push themselves further.
Players formed a new goal of netting £1,000 by covering all 42 senior football grounds. By the weekend, they had covered 1,748 miles and raised £1,265.
Mr Eden said: “The boys have all done really well and their competitive side really came out.
“The squad was split in two and the losing squad will take a dip in the Boddam Harbour.
“It was a long six weeks of not being able to breathe properly, so it was great being able to do this challenge.”
Mr Eden feels much better now and said his experience helped “motivate the boys taking part in the challenge.”
They finished the effort on Saturday night, but the fundraising page will remain open until Sunday.
Donations can be made online by searching ‘Weʼre raising £1,000 to Boddam Recreation Trust & Kirkburn Court’ at www.justgiving.com
