Blackpool FA Cup hero Chris Maxwell urges people to follow Covid rules after recovering from illness

Blackpool’s Chris Maxwell Photographer Dave Howarth/CameraSport The EFL Sky Bet League One – Blackpool v Hull City – Tuesday 15th December 2020 – Bloomfield Road – Blackpool World Copyright © 2020 CameraSport. All rights reserved. 43 Linden Ave. Countesthorpe. Leicester. England. LE8 5PG – Tel: +44 (0) 116 277 4147 – admin@camerasport.com – www.camerasport.com

 

BLACKPOOL FC’s FA Cup hero Chris Maxwell has urged Fylde coast residents to follow the Government’s Covid guidelines after recently recovering from the virus.

Seasiders’ goalkeeper and club skipper Maxwell, who played a major role in the club’s FA Cup third round penalty shoot-out victory against West Bromwich Albion at the weekend, had to self-isolate for 10 days after testing positive on December 23 last year and says it is vital that people do all they can to protect themselves and their families against the virus.

The 30-year-old said: “I had Covid over Christmas and it was awful. Not only was I feeling terrible for about eight days, but also missing out on games and training was tough.

“I didn’t need to go to hospital but I was in bed for three days. I felt really lethargic and it hit me hard. My wife also had symptoms and was ill.

“I don’t know how I caught it. We’re very strict at our club in terms of the protocols we have to follow.

“Anyone can catch it and you can catch it any way. You can catch it in the supermarket, you can catch it from home. You can get it anywhere. Something very serious is going on at the moment and I have seen it and how it affected my family and that is why everyone has to do all they can to avoid getting the virus and spreading it.

“I see myself as a professional athlete who takes his fitness and health very seriously and I can’t help but think about how it might have affected an elderly person or someone like my mum and dad, who are in their 60s, then I think it would have been quite serious.

“My mum and dad are both self-isolating anyway because they’ve got my 86-year-old nan with them, so I’ve not seen them since March. It’s a necessity, though. It’s something we have to deal with. Everyone needs to do their bit.

“It’s something we’ve all got to pay attention to and take seriously.’’

Maxwell was full of praise for NHS staff locally and around the country for their efforts to support people during the pandemic.

He said: “My grandmother and mum were both district nurses and I have friends who work in emergency care and intensive care in a different part of the country and I know how incredibly busy they have been.

“I think NHS staff have been absolutely amazing throughout all this and they need the public to help them by staying at home where possible, wearing masks and keeping a social distance.

“I really would urge everyone to please follow the guidelines and stick together so we can get through this tough time together.’’

 

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