A WOMAN with a serious lung disease has revealed how she caught Covid-19 despite shielding throughout the pandemic - describing it as the “scariest experience” of her life.

Erica Donnelly, 39, who has cystic fibrosis, has been shielding for almost a year due to being considered extremely vulnerable to the deadly effects of coronavirus.

The genetic condition impacts the lungs and their ability to function and before the virus outbreak people suffering with the disease were advised to take precautions.

Wearing a mask and social distancing may seem unfamiliar to so many, but not for Erica, who has always had to be cautious due to being more susceptible to infection.

“I’ve been shielding for almost a year and although my partner works, he is mainly based outside and has been very, very careful,” the Southend resident said.

For nearly 12-months, Erica had successfully managed to navigate the pandemic safely, but her life was plunged into doubt when she contracted the deadly virus.

Erica, who described the prospect of having Covid-19 alongside cystic fibrosis as “unimaginable”, started to feel unwell roughly one week ago.

She was immediately taken to Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge - where she is normally treated for her ongoing cystic fibrosis care - from her home.

Desperately needing ventilator support to turn around her falling oxygen levels, Erica took a significant turn for the worse and her family were told to prepare for the worst.

Erica believes she fell victim to the more infectious strain of coronavirus, which she believes is managing to target people regardless of how careful they may be to follow Covid rules.

“I got very sick and was blue-lighted in an ambulance from home in Southend to Royal Papworth,” she said.

“We been okay until now, but this new strain is so much more transmissible, and it is finding those previously harder to reach people, like us, even despite all the precautions we take.

“My family were told to prepare for the worst.

“I have never been so scared, but at the same time I have never had so much love, support, and care.

“At my worst moment I said to the nurses ‘is this it?’, but I had to fight back and thankfully I have had the best care and although I have a way to go,

“I am improving.”

Like so many other vulnerable people, Erica took shielding extremely seriously.

As a result there is not much data about how those with conditions on the clinically extremely vulnerable list react to the virus.

Erica, who says she now becomes tired much easier, has therefore urged everyone to be careful and take the severity of the virus more seriously.

She has also now thanked hospital workers at Royal Papworth Hospital for keeping her alive and giving hope to others fighting the virus.

She added: “I’m tired now just from eating but I’m grateful to be recovering and know for many families the outcome won’t be as good.

“I can’t put into words how thankful I am to be at Royal Papworth Hospital which is where I am normally looked after.

“My doctor Helen Barker, one of the nurses, Nick, and all the staff who have looked after me have been absolutely amazing.

“My plea would be that people really need to do more than what they are doing to control the virus.

“We have been so careful, and it still got us, so please everyone, act like you have the virus and follow the guidelines.”