A fit and healthy mother-of-two in the UK who contracted coronavirus and felt as though she was 'breathing glass' for weeks has is...
A fit and healthy mother-of-two in the UK who contracted coronavirus and felt as though she was 'breathing glass' for weeks has issued a stern warning to 'blasé' Australians.
Tara Jane Langston, from London, felt as though her active, non-smoking lifestyle made her immune from the COVID-19 pandemic currently sweeping the world, until she contracted the virus in early March, aged just 39.
Describing her experience in harrowing hospital videos that have been viewed around the world, Tara Jane has a special message for Aussies flouting the 'stay inside' rules.
'Australians need to know the same thing the Brits need to know. The same thing that every country needs to know,' she told journalist Tom Steinfort on 60 Minutes.
Tara Jane Langston, who is based in London, felt as though her active, non-smoking lifestyle made her immune from the COVID-19 pandemic currently sweeping the world, until she contracted the grave virus in early March
'I would say, to people who are thinking of being blasé like my mindset was at the beginning, take it more seriously. Because if you get it, and you get it bad, it will be one of the most traumatic experiences of your life... if you survive it.'
No one is immune.
The hardworking gym-goer went on to describe what the virus does to your body, saying 'you think you're going to die' during the two-week ordeal.
'I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy let alone an elderly person or a child. It's like you have glass in your lungs. Every breath is like you have glass... you have no breath,' she said.
Not knowing whether she was going to see her children Meadow, three, and Annabelle, 17, again - or whether she was going to need oxygen administered for the rest of her life - Tara Jane has now woken up to the harsh reality of what our healthcare systems are fighting.
The hardworking gym-goer went on to describe what the virus does to your body, saying 'you think you're going to die' during the two-week ordeal
She was able to return home on the UK's Mother's Day on March 22, and is recovering with a mild cough
She was able to return home on the UK's Mother's Day on March 22, and is recovering with a mild cough. She still struggles to climb the stairs in her West London home.
'I am just so happy to be home to see my girls and husband. And to know that I have beaten coronavirus,' she told MailOnline on March 24.
'I'm still on the road to recovery but feel so much better than when I made the video. It has been a traumatic time, but I am over the worst.'
Her family had been in self-isolation after Tara Jane tested positive for the virus, believing she contracted it after visiting tourist areas in Krakow, Poland on February 26.
A video she made shortly after being admitted has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times and seen by people in the US, India and Europe.
A video she made shortly after being admitted has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times and seen by people in the US, India and Europe
It provided a wake-up call to many who thought only the elderly and those with underlying health problems were at risk from COVID-19.
She said in the footage: 'I would not wish what I have gone through on my worst enemy, but if there is one good thing I hope that it has opened people's eyes to the dangers of this virus.'
In a separate video she started to cry in between deep, exhausting breaths, saying: 'I'm praying to God I get through this... I still have so much I want to do in life'.
'There were two other patients with me in the ICU, both of who were being intubated. One was quite a large man who I’d say was about late 50s or early 60s and the other was a lady roughly the same age. So these were not elderly people,' she told MailOnline.
Tara Jane said she had taken the health warnings from government 'with a pinch of salt' before she fell ill
Jane was collected from hospital by her husband Richard on March 22 and had an emotional reunion with her daughters at their West London home
'That was my reasoning behind doing those videos... to warn that younger people are susceptible too. It's quite surreal being in the ICU, the nurses are covered head to toe but they are literally working non-stop and have been brilliant.
'They are actually running out of face masks. One nurse came into my room the other day with a sort of plastic sheeting covering her face, it looked like the sort of clear plastic wrapper flowers come in.
'I just worry that when this virus starts getting worse they’re going to be swamped.'
Tara Jane said she had taken the health warnings from government 'with a pinch of salt' before she fell ill.
'I was very healthy and did not think I would be at risk. And then it hit me. Knowing that some people will take notice and take better care makes the video all worthwhile,' she said.
'I am so glad to be home and it means there is a bed free for someone else.'
Tara Jane's husband Richard said the video could turn out to be a lifesaver.
'I had a call from relatives in America who had no idea about Tara Jane and then they saw the video and said they were planning to meet up but were now going to cancel. I think it was a wake-up call that they could catch the virus.
'No one is immune.'
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