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FREDONIA – A local mayor who recently recovered from COVID-19 is detailing his battle with the virus.
Fredonia Mayor Douglas Essek, sitting with his wife in a video posted online by Chautauqua County Executive P.J. Wendel, says his entire family tested positive for COVID-19, however, it impacted everyone differently.
While his wife and children were mostly asymptomatic, the Mayor says he developed double pneumonia and later suffered a “massive” heart attack.
“If you are able to get a vaccination, get it,” said Essek. “The consequences of having COVID can be very, very serious, I almost died, I had a very good chance of dying, take all the precautions you need to, please do not be complacent, or ignorant, or arrogant, this is very serious.”
Essek received care at Hamot Medical Center’s Intensive Care Unit in Erie, Pennsylvania. He says everyone in his household followed COVID-19 guidelines, but still got sick.
Both the mayor and his wife plan on getting vaccinated as soon as they are able to.
He also thanked the doctors and local EMS crews who saved his life.
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