A TEENAGER who took up vaping as an alternative to smoking ended up on a life support machine with organ failure.
Ewan Fisher made the switch in a bid to improve his boxing skills and overall fitness – but he found himself with the lungs of an 80-year-old.
PA:Press AssociationEwan Fisher in intensive care after months of vaping[/caption]
The then 16-year-old was puffing away on fruity e-cigarettes up to 14 times a dayITV
The lad said he was puffing away on fruity e-cigarettes up to 14 times a day, which caused a condition called hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
This occurs when the lungs develop an immune response to something you breathe in, resulting in inflammation of the tissue.
Ewan fell ill the night before he was due to start his GCSE exams aged 16.
He spent eight weeks in intensive care and then needed an artificial lung to keep him alive.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain today, Ewan said: “I took up vaping as a substitute for smoking cigarettes because I wanted to fulfil my boxing career and get to my maximum potential.
“My mum told me to stop vaping but I didn’t listen and it just went downhill from there.
“I ended up on two different life support machines in a coma with just 20 per cent chance of living.
“At one stage they called my family in to say goodbye because they didn’t think I would make it through the night.
“It ruined my whole life.”
Five years on, Ewan, from Nottingham, is still struggling.
“Doctors told me I’d make a full recovery but I’m still having quite a lot of side effects now,” he added.
“It took me quite a long time to even walk again so I missed a lot of my main teenage years.”
The former athlete now wants to warn other young people of the potential dangers of e-cigarettes.
“Please, please don’t do it,” Ewan said.
“It affects everyone around you and I was close to death.”
Professor Jonathan Grigg, who specialises in paediatric medicine and sat next to Ewan on GMB, added: “We know vapes are not safe.
“Ewan is the tip of the iceberg. We’re building up a whole cohort of children who are going to be addicted to vaping and have long-term effects on their developing lung problems.”
‘IT RUINED MY WHOLE LIFE’
Ewan had dreamt of becoming a professional boxer, but now gets out of breath just walking up the stairs.
Speaking to ITV last year, he said: “I used to be really healthy, running every night, but I can’t do anything anymore.
“I really struggle up hills, and it’s ruined all my joints. My life’s changed massively.
“My granddad is fitter than me and he’s 65.
“When I was in hospital they said I had the lungs of an 80-year-old life-long smoker and I’d only vaped for five or six months.
“I’ve lost my boxing career and I’ve lost a lot of the things that I used to do in life.”
Vapes have been linked to at least five deaths in Britain, with reports of the devices leaving kids suffering from collapsed lungs.
NHS figures show 40 youngsters under the age of 19 were admitted to hospital over the past year because of illegally-sold e-cigs.
Among them were 15 children aged nine or under – up from 12 last year and just two the year before.
Experts have warned that “youth vaping is fast becoming an epidemic among kids”.
Ewan said: ‘Please, please don’t do it. I was close to death’ITV
Experts fear Ewan is just ‘the tip of the iceberg’ITV
FacebookThe aspiring boxer was left with lungs of a life-long smoker[/caption]
PA:Press AssociationEwan has warned young people of the potential dangers of vaping[/caption]
The 5 tips to stop smoking that you need to know
PARVINDER Sagoo, superintendent pharmacist and clinician at SimplyMedsOnline, revealed their top tips to kick the habit
Think about why you should or want to quit smoking:Rather than just quitting on a whim and not really having any particular reason, you should try to think about your exact reasons for quitting, whether it be health, family or work. Writing these down, as well as the benefits that will come out of quitting will allow you to understand the importance of quitting and should help you quit for good.
Decide to quit smoking and keep to this decision: Telling friends, family and colleagues of your plan to quit should help the process, as they will know not to offer you any cigarettes or can offer support. Once you know you will quit it’s time to get the wheels in motion on dates and quitting strategies.
Decide on a date and prepare yourself to stop: Give yourself a date that you will quit, ensure all cigarettes, e-cigarettes and other such items are removed from your home, car and office by this date so you are not tempted.
Quit smoking: On the day of quitting, you should have prepared yourself and gotten rid of anything relating to smoking. You may want to have items with you that will help the process such as nicotine patches, gums or sprays.
Stay away from cigarettes and smoking – never start again: This is the hard bit, sticking to it. However the longer you go without smoking the more likely you are to quit for good. The first two weeks is the hardest part, try to avoid things that may mean you are likely to pick it up again such as drinking, socialising in a pub, or joining the smokers outside at work.