(SWNS)
At just 20 years old, James Johnson was rushed to intensive care and diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia due to chemicals from vapes getting into his lungs. The young father from Blackpool had been working as a nightclub bouncer and would constantly use his £12 vape during long night shifts to pass the time.
James had started vaping around 18 months ago, ignoring his friends’ warnings about the potential dangers. A dad to a seven-month-old baby girl, he believed, “nothing would happen to him.” However, one evening, he suddenly began vomiting blood.
After this terrifying incident, James doesn’t remember anything until waking up from a coma. His heart had stopped, and he spent a considerable time in the hospital. Upon waking, he didn’t recognize his partner or know he had a daughter, reported Wales Online.
“It was very mentally straining in hospital but the first couple of weeks, I didn’t know I was there,” he explained. “I couldn’t walk for the first couple of weeks and it was even worse because I was awake and couldn’t talk, walk, or eat.”
Doctors diagnosed James with bilateral pneumonia and discovered that chemicals from the vape had filled his lungs with pus. His right lung was severely damaged and beyond saving, but his left lung still functions.
“There’s not many people who survive pneumonia but luckily I was young and I was able to pull through,” James added. “A lot of people can live with one lung, but it’s about how I make different life choices. If I go back to vaping or smoking or I don’t look after my body, then I won’t make it past 40. To be honest, I’m glad I found out now because it could have happened in ten or 20 years and my body wouldn’t have been fit enough to survive it.”
Once he’s fully recovered, James plans to participate in a charity boxing match to raise money for Cancer Research UK. He is now urging others to educate themselves about what they are vaping.
“Read up about what you are smoking before you smoke it,” he advised. “Don’t think that because of your age, that it won’t happen to you. I am only 20 years old and I nearly lost my life.” James’ story serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers of vaping, especially for young people who might underestimate the risks.
