Muay Thai’s John Wayne Parr reveals he was unvaccinated when struck down by Covid

A legendary Gold Coaster who feared Covid-19 would kill him has shared further insight into his frightening ordeal, revealing where he stands on the vaccine.

Professional fighter John Wayne Parr has revealed he was unvaccinated against Covid-19 when he was struck down with the virus last month.

The Muay Thai legend took to social media last Friday in what was intended to be an “educational” post that ultimately divided his 387,000 followers.

Mr Parr – who has faced off against some of the world’s toughest – said he believed the virus would kill him after suffering severe heart inflammation.

John Wayne Parr in hospital. Picture: Supplied

His post, featuring photos of the 10x Muay Thai champion hooked up to a heart monitor, has drawn more than 1300 comments and 11,560 likes from users inquiring about the ordeal.

Asked whether he was double jabbed, Mr Parr said: ‘No.”

He did not say whether he was still opposed to the vaccine or if he would reconsider getting the jab in light of his scary experience.

“I know people messed up from the vaccine also so I have no opinion. Whole thing sucks,” he replied to one follower.

“Damned if you do, damned if you don't.”

Mr Parr was quick to correct followers who speculated his heart inflammation or myocarditis was due to the vaccine, as it is a listed side effect.

“Not vaccinated. The virus attacked my heart,” he said, touching on his four-day stint at Gold Coast University Hospital’s Covid ward.

“My main message to people is to remind them that it’s not just a bad flu. It can attack you anywhere in your body. Sneaky little virus,” he explained.

“I won’t lie. I (previously) thought “bad flu, meh”. Then the virus used my heart like a punching bag.”

Mr Parr was released from hospital after what was described as an “educational week.”

“I can’t thank the medical staff enough for all their help. You guys are amazing. I seen with my own eyes how exhausted everyone was.”

‘Insane pain’: World champion brought down by Covid-19

January 7, 2021

Muay Thai fighter John Wayne Parr believed he would die in his sleep while hospitalised and battling a horror case of Covid-19 during the festive season.

The 10x World Muay Thai champion took to social media on Friday, detailing his frightening battle with the potentially lethal virus that led to a four-day hospitalisation to treat his severe heart inflammation.

Mr Parr said the typical symptoms associated with Covid – cough, fever, and body aches – started in the days prior to New Year’s Eve, likening the “insane pain” to being “hit by a car”.

“But what got me worried was the heart pain,” he admitted in a candid post to his 387,000 Instagram followers including international DJ Paul Fisher.

Mr Parr told fans that most symptoms disappeared by the third day but the pain in his chest remained, prompting him to take further action.

Parr feared he would die in his sleep while battling Covid-19. Picture: John Wayne Parr

“I seriously prayed a few times as I thought there was a chance I was going to die in my sleep,” Mr Parr recalled.

“Decided better go hospital day three because if something went wrong, I didn’t want family wouldn’t find my body.

“After testing positive at one hospital, I had to be transported by ambulance to our bigger hospital that has a Covid ward.”

The now-retired star spent New Year’s Eve away from loved ones, holed up inside Gold Coast University Hospital’s Covid ward.

“My heart rate was still only sitting 45-50bpm so it wasn’t jumping out of my chest. But it felt more like it was cramping and I couldn’t rub it out,” Mr Parr said.

“After four days in hospital I still had heart pain, but all my test come back perfect.

“Doctors allowed me to go home with ibuprofen to help settle the heart inflammation.”

Picture: John Wayne Parr

Mr Parr said the “only positive” to come from the experience was the possibly of a strong immunity against the virus – admitting he underestimated its severity.

“I was one of the people that thought it was going to be a bad cold. I had no idea it was going to attack my heat the way it did,” he said.

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