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| World's longest Covid sufferer stages come-back gig in Bristol | World's longest Covid sufferer stages come-back gig in Bristol |
| (8 months later) | |
| Dave Smith only had 51% of his lung capacity after 10 months of Covid | Dave Smith only had 51% of his lung capacity after 10 months of Covid |
| Dave Smith only had 51% of his lung capacity after 10 months of Covid | |
| The "miracle man" who was infected with Covid for more than 10 months has staged a come-back concert with some help from the English National Opera. | The "miracle man" who was infected with Covid for more than 10 months has staged a come-back concert with some help from the English National Opera. |
| Dave Smith, from Bristol, had Covid for nearly 300 days - longer than anyone else recorded in the world. | Dave Smith, from Bristol, had Covid for nearly 300 days - longer than anyone else recorded in the world. |
| The 73-year-old was hospitalised seven times and said he had "resigned" himself to dying. | The 73-year-old was hospitalised seven times and said he had "resigned" himself to dying. |
| But now the life-long musician is back on stage after some breath coaching from a professional opera singer. | But now the life-long musician is back on stage after some breath coaching from a professional opera singer. |
| Mr Smith described his experience of getting Covid in May 2020 as "like someone has pulled the plug and life is just draining out of your body". | Mr Smith described his experience of getting Covid in May 2020 as "like someone has pulled the plug and life is just draining out of your body". |
| He lost 10 stone (63.5kg) during his illness and was left barely able to walk or hold a conversation. | He lost 10 stone (63.5kg) during his illness and was left barely able to walk or hold a conversation. |
| Mr Smith, a driving instructor by day and a lead singer by night, was finally cured after being offered a cocktail of antiviral drugs developed by a company in the US last summer. | Mr Smith, a driving instructor by day and a lead singer by night, was finally cured after being offered a cocktail of antiviral drugs developed by a company in the US last summer. |
| Dave Smith could barely sing after his battle with Covid | Dave Smith could barely sing after his battle with Covid |
| Dave Smith could barely sing after his battle with Covid | |
| 'My complete life' | 'My complete life' |
| Mr Smith's road to full recovery has been slow, and in the past year he has been admitted to hospital several times for breathing problems. | Mr Smith's road to full recovery has been slow, and in the past year he has been admitted to hospital several times for breathing problems. |
| He can only do a few minutes of activity before sitting down, and until recently he was unable to do the thing he missed most in the world - singing. | He can only do a few minutes of activity before sitting down, and until recently he was unable to do the thing he missed most in the world - singing. |
| Describing what performing again would mean to him before the course, Mr Smith told BBC Breakfast: "It would be like having my complete life back, I know I have got my physical life back but it would be my mental life as well." | Describing what performing again would mean to him before the course, Mr Smith told BBC Breakfast: "It would be like having my complete life back, I know I have got my physical life back but it would be my mental life as well." |
| He joked that when he sang he felt like a "squeezebox with all the air squeezed out". | He joked that when he sang he felt like a "squeezebox with all the air squeezed out". |
| Dave Smith was a professional musician in the 1970s | Dave Smith was a professional musician in the 1970s |
| Dave Smith was a professional musician in the 1970s | |
| Mr Smith was thrown a lifeline after being accepted onto a six-week breath work course developed by Suzie Zumpe of the English National Opera (EN) in partnership with Imperial College London. | Mr Smith was thrown a lifeline after being accepted onto a six-week breath work course developed by Suzie Zumpe of the English National Opera (EN) in partnership with Imperial College London. |
| Over 90% of people who take part say they have noticed an improvement in their symptoms and they would recommend it to other sufferers. | Over 90% of people who take part say they have noticed an improvement in their symptoms and they would recommend it to other sufferers. |
| Jenny Mollica, director of ENO Breathe, said: "We know that opera singers are used to filling big auditoriums with their voice completely unamplified, so they understand breath control, they understand the physiology of breathing. | Jenny Mollica, director of ENO Breathe, said: "We know that opera singers are used to filling big auditoriums with their voice completely unamplified, so they understand breath control, they understand the physiology of breathing. |
| "What we are doing is working with some of that expertise to give them skills and strategies to manage their breathlessness post-Covid." | "What we are doing is working with some of that expertise to give them skills and strategies to manage their breathlessness post-Covid." |
| Dave Smith. An ordinary name. An extraordinary man. | Dave Smith. An ordinary name. An extraordinary man. |
| By Jon Kay | By Jon Kay |
| When I first met the retired driving-instructor in Bristol in June 2021, he had finally recovered from Covid after having the active virus in his body for more than 300 days - longer than anyone else on the planet. | When I first met the retired driving-instructor in Bristol in June 2021, he had finally recovered from Covid after having the active virus in his body for more than 300 days - longer than anyone else on the planet. |
| He was still very frail and his lungs were badly damaged. | He was still very frail and his lungs were badly damaged. |
| He could only walk a few steps before he needed to rest and he told me the thing he missed the most was singing. | He could only walk a few steps before he needed to rest and he told me the thing he missed the most was singing. |
| For years, Dave had performed in pubs and clubs around Bristol, but it seemed his gigging days were over. | For years, Dave had performed in pubs and clubs around Bristol, but it seemed his gigging days were over. |
| However, this autumn we filmed his progress for BBC Breakfast as he took part in online singing lessons through the ENO Breathe course for the NHS. | However, this autumn we filmed his progress for BBC Breakfast as he took part in online singing lessons through the ENO Breathe course for the NHS. |
| Dave was a little perplexed at first - some of the vocal exercises were "a bit weird" he said - but, over six weeks, the techniques he learned seemed to lead to a marked improvement in his lung capacity and his confidence. | Dave was a little perplexed at first - some of the vocal exercises were "a bit weird" he said - but, over six weeks, the techniques he learned seemed to lead to a marked improvement in his lung capacity and his confidence. |
| It wasn't long before he decided he could fulfil his dream of getting back up on stage and performing with his band. | It wasn't long before he decided he could fulfil his dream of getting back up on stage and performing with his band. |
| The gig itself was one of the best I've ever been to. | The gig itself was one of the best I've ever been to. |
| Not because of the music itself - Dave still struggles a bit with his voice - but the goodwill and love for Dave in the room was extraordinary. | Not because of the music itself - Dave still struggles a bit with his voice - but the goodwill and love for Dave in the room was extraordinary. |
| Dave Smith did online breath training with Suzi Zumpe of the English National Opera | Dave Smith did online breath training with Suzi Zumpe of the English National Opera |
| Dave Smith did online breath training with Suzi Zumpe of the English National Opera | |
| Mr Smith said when doctors told him he only had 51% of his lung capacity, he thought his singing days were over. | Mr Smith said when doctors told him he only had 51% of his lung capacity, he thought his singing days were over. |
| But within weeks of finishing his breath course, he was planning his comeback. | But within weeks of finishing his breath course, he was planning his comeback. |
| He said then: "I'm pretty sure I can do it, singing makes you feel really happy and when it goes well it's such a buzz. The endorphins get going. It's absolutely brilliant." | He said then: "I'm pretty sure I can do it, singing makes you feel really happy and when it goes well it's such a buzz. The endorphins get going. It's absolutely brilliant." |
| 'A real rush | 'A real rush |
| Mr Smith and his band booked the Langley Arms pub near Bristol and on the night of the performance it was packed with friends and family. | Mr Smith and his band booked the Langley Arms pub near Bristol and on the night of the performance it was packed with friends and family. |
| They even raised some money for Southmead Hospital, where Mr Smith was treated, with a Christmas raffle. | They even raised some money for Southmead Hospital, where Mr Smith was treated, with a Christmas raffle. |
| His idol, Francis Rossi of Status Quo, even had a few words of advice. | His idol, Francis Rossi of Status Quo, even had a few words of advice. |
| The rock star told Mr Smith "to think of it as 'just another gig, that way you can do you and enjoy it. It will be fun. | The rock star told Mr Smith "to think of it as 'just another gig, that way you can do you and enjoy it. It will be fun. |
| Mr Smith said the call "boosted me right up". | Mr Smith said the call "boosted me right up". |
| Dave Smith at the Langley Arms with Suzi Zumpe | Dave Smith at the Langley Arms with Suzi Zumpe |
| Dave Smith at the Langley Arms with Suzi Zumpe | |
| Mr Smith's wife Lynda said: "You never would have thought it would have been possible - two years ago he was at death's door five times. | Mr Smith's wife Lynda said: "You never would have thought it would have been possible - two years ago he was at death's door five times. |
| "He was determined to do it." | "He was determined to do it." |
| Step-son Rich Nicholls said: "He wasn't able to walk. We had to get the stair lift in just for him to be able to get upstairs. | Step-son Rich Nicholls said: "He wasn't able to walk. We had to get the stair lift in just for him to be able to get upstairs. |
| "He could barely hold a conversation without being out of breath. It's amazing." | "He could barely hold a conversation without being out of breath. It's amazing." |
| Suzie Zumpe of the ENO even showed up to do a duet. | Suzie Zumpe of the ENO even showed up to do a duet. |
| Speaking after the gig, Mr Smith said: "It was great. It was a real rush and the crowd was behind me. I'm not 100% and it's taken it out of me. | Speaking after the gig, Mr Smith said: "It was great. It was a real rush and the crowd was behind me. I'm not 100% and it's taken it out of me. |
| "It'll probably be my last performance ever." | "It'll probably be my last performance ever." |
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| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Long Covid | Long Covid |
| Bristol | Bristol |