SOUTHEND United chairman Ron Martin has spoken of his own battle with coronavirus.

Martin tested positive just before Christmas and then suffered further complications when prolonged coughing resulted in him causing more damage.

“I tore an artery in my neck through coughing when I had Covid,” said Martin.

“I tested positive just before Christmas and had severe headaches.

“Despite being a chairman of a football club I don’t normally have high blood pressure but I did that week !

“We had to call an ambulance and when it arrived the reading was 220 over 120 when normally I’m 130 over 80.

“It was severe but it could’ve been much worse. “

Martin is now back working at Blues but he is still receiving treatment and it could take a few months for the artery to self-heal.

“I’m under really, really good care and again the NHS were brilliant, so it hasn’t changed my working life terribly much," said Martin.

“I wasn’t on full cylinders for a little while, over the Christmas and early New Year, but I am now.”