COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise, one local father shares his experience in the ICU

Florida hit a new record Tuesday for the number of hospitalizations for COVID-19 with 11,515.

There are more than 11,000 people hospitalized for the virus right now in Florida.

Action News Jax Dani Bozzini sat down with a local father who was in the ICU for a week battling COVID-19

“It’s scary being able to breathe one minute and then not take air another it’s really scary,” explains Kevin Carroll.

The 46-year-old is recovering from COVID-19. The local father of two started experiencing symptoms on July 15 and it went downhill fast.

“I woke up my wife and said I’m in some trouble and I need some help.”

Carroll ended up spending a week in the ICU at Mayo Clinic.

Isolated and alone fighting to breathe, fighting to stay alive.

“You’re looking out at the world going ‘oh my gosh I’ve got this COVID that I really could’ve avoided’.”

He never thought he would hospitalized. He believed if he contracted the virus, he might be out for a couple days tops.

It’s part of the reason why he never got the vaccine.

“In hindsight what a silly move.”

And while Carroll beat COVID-19, his road to recovery isn’t over in the slightest.

Instead of a working out and heading to work, now his daily routine consists of medications, daily vital check and oxygen.

“I haven’t really left the house that much but if I do I need to make sure that I do have oxygen nearby just in case.”

And he believes this all could have been avoided if he had just gotten the vaccine.

“I really do. If we can change one mind or just a couple to say hey I was on the fence and let’s do this that’s why we’re talking.”

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