An 18-year-old Suffolk woman who ‘died’ five times as she battled septicaemia, pleurisy and pneumonia last year feared she was once again ‘on her death bed’ as she was treated in hospital for Covid-19.

East Anglian Daily Times: Casey Davies was in hospital for more than two weeks and continues to have a cough following her coronavirus diagnosis Picture: CASEY DAVIESCasey Davies was in hospital for more than two weeks and continues to have a cough following her coronavirus diagnosis Picture: CASEY DAVIES (Image: CASEY DAVIES)

But today Casey Davies is back home in Bury St Edmunds recovering from the virus, having spent more than two weeks being treated at West Suffolk Hospital.

Casey first realised something was wrong when her chest began to feel tight and a persistent cough would not disappear – but she tested negative for the virus on four occasions and doctors diagnosed her with a chest infection.

That all changed on April 24, when she went to her mum’s house feeling like she was “on her death bed”. A day later, an ambulance was called and she was admitted to West Suffolk Hospital.

Miss Davies was initially put on a normal ward, where she helped elderly patients with their needs after seeing NHS staff “rushed off their feet” throughout the day.

East Anglian Daily Times: Casey Davies during her hospital stay in 2019, where she was put in a coma after her heart stopped beating five times Picture: CASEY DAVIESCasey Davies during her hospital stay in 2019, where she was put in a coma after her heart stopped beating five times Picture: CASEY DAVIES (Image: Archant)

But tested positive for the virus three days later and later required oxygen.

Miss Davies said: “None of us thought I had the virus, but then within minutes I was put on an IV drip and was being given so many different medications.

“The pain was awful, I was coughing up blood and my temperature rose to 40C. I also lost my sense of taste and smell.

“It felt like I was on my death bed.”

This was not the type one diabetic’s first time in hospital, last year Miss Davies’ heart stopped five times while battling septicaemia, pleurisy and pneumonia. She also struggles with asthma.

MORE: Teenager’s heart stops five times She added: “I hate hospital, it can be such a lonely and scary place. “But I knew I needed to be there this time, and I knew I had to fight against this virus.“The nurses were so stressed and their buzzers were going off every minute, but they were helping people in every way they could.”After 17 days in hospital receiving oxygen, Miss Davies was later deemed fit to go home, but continues to suffer with a cough.Miss Davies, who previously lived in Ipswich, said: “I was starting to feel better and did not want to take a bed away from someone who genuinely needed it.“I can’t thank the nurses and staff enough for what they have done. They really are going above and beyond to help people.“They helped rub my back, they helped me with my medicine. But they also helped me when I was feeling alone. I got to know them as people, and every one of them was lovely.“I’m receiving food packages from the government and should receive a final testing kit in the next few weeks, then hopefully things will start to go back to normal.”