Counter-terrorism expert Shiraz Maher tells of his struggle with COVID-19

A top authority on Islamic radicalisation, Shiraz Maher, has described his wild struggle with COVID-19.

Shiraz Maher, director of the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence at King’s College London. He says COVID-19 ‘made me feel more intensely ill than I’ve ever been in my life’. Picture: Supplied

One of Britain’s most prominent advisers on Islamic radicalisation, Shiraz Maher, has told of his terrifying experience of the coronavirus COVID-19.

The worst moment, he says, was after the fever, cough and breathing difficulties appeared to be over, only to return with heart and blood-pressure issues.

Mr Maher, 38, described his rollercoaster health battle during the past two weeks as the virus took hold.

For him, it cruelly appeared to be finished, only to return with the most severe symptoms. He says the ambulance service was unable to help him and he had to take measures himself.

The timely warning comes as the heir to the throne Prince Charles, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, British Health Secretary Matt Hancock and the chief medical adviser Chris Whitty all have the disease in the early stages.

Mr Maher, who is the director at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence at King’s College London, said in a series of tweets that about two weeks ago he had mild fever which went quickly.

He said: “Is it COVID-19? Who knows, but I’ve shaken it quickly. Great.’’

But then he added: “Then my lungs started packing up and my chest got very tight. This happened around 15-16 March.

“The cough was dry and unlike anything I’ve ever had before. It was much more extreme and pronounced than a dry cough you might have during a bout of the flu. It feels like there’s something deeply lodged within your lungs, that they’re (violently) trying to eject.

“Of course, there’s nothing to actually eject. The resulting cough is dusty, dry and painful. Much more scary is that you’re unsure of when you’ll stop coughing. You have no control over it. There were times I was worried I’d start vomiting because the coughing was so severe.’’

Mr Maher said stopping coughing was a relief but at that point he was fighting to draw air into his lungs, but his chest was tight and his lungs were in distress.

“They’re not functioning the way they should. Your head is also pounding because of the violent coughing. I suffered terrible headaches after these coughing fits. The evening of Wednesday 18th was the worst day for me. I fought for breath for about 3-4 hours. It was horrific.’’

Mr Maher recorded the symptoms and sent them to friends who were medics and they replied “Classic Covid”.

He said at that point staying awake was a struggle. “I went to bed. My breathing remained severely impaired for another 2 days, but I was managing it all from home.’’

By Friday he believed he had got through the worst and the outlook was good. But by last Saturday night he felt distinctly unwell again.

“Coronavirus is particularly cruel. Recovery is not linear. On Saturday night I started to feel distinctly unwell again. I decided to take my blood pressure because I have a home monitor. Anything over 180/120 is classified as ‘hypertensive crisis’ (basically, heart attack/stroke territory). Without revealing what mine was, let’s just say I was well, well in excess of this. Again, I don’t have an underlying issue. This was easily the most terrifying moment,’’ he said.

“I called my doctor friends and told them. ‘Time to call [emergency services number] 999,’ they said. So I did.’’

Mr Maher said it took more than 15 minutes to speak with a representative.

‘’That’s how overwhelmed the emergency services are. I told them my BP [blood pressure] and that I have coronavirus.

“Ultimately they decided they couldn’t respond to my call. I am not criticising the London ambulance service. They are doing superb work under incredible, unprecedented circumstances. I’m telling you this part of the story to underscore two things.

“The first is that you should only call them in an absolute emergency. It’s not a diagnostic service. The more unnecessary calls, the longer the delay in them answering becomes.

“Secondly, be prepared to take decisive action for yourself because they might not be able to help.’’

Mr Maher again called his doctor friends and he said he took actions to lower his blood pressure at home, but he didn’t reveal what these methods were.

“I spent the next 48 hours in bed and, only after this time, did my blood pressure return to anything vaguely resembling ‘normal’, it was still high, but acceptable,’’ he said.

“Now we’re into the start of this week. Symptoms have slowly evolved into a less severe cough and my chest being less tight although these get worse in the evenings. But I have lots of new symptoms: crazy abdominal pains and headaches. The lethargy has persisted throughout.’’

Mr Maher said it was now the end of over two weeks since he developed symptoms and about 11-12 days since they became particularly acute. “For the first time, I feel like I’m starting to beat it but I’m nowhere near feeling 100 per cent,’’ he said.

Mr Maher said the virus does not follow a linear trajectory and nor does it affect everyone the same.

He warned: “Some are shaking it off relatively easily. Others are suffering very badly. The most difficult part of this is the extent to which it takes hold within your lungs. There’s just no way to tell what will happen at the start. You need to watch this symptom if it develops.’’

He added: “It’s a completely mad, crazy illness. It had made me feel more intensely ill than I’ve ever been in my life.’’