RETIRED motorcycle racing legend Carl Fogarty says he has been struck down with symptoms he thinks could be coronavirus.

The East Lancashire hero said he and wife, Michaela, experienced symptoms which left them with high temperatures, aches and shivers and difficulty breathing.

Speaking from his home in Mellor yesterday, the former World Superbike champion, known affectionately as ‘Foggy’, said he had been in self-isolation since March 22.

He said: “We’d already been staying in the house and not venturing out but I started to develop symptoms about 10 days ago.

“At first it was just a cough and I was a bit achy, but by Friday night and into Saturday morning I was aching all over and shivering.

“It was a bit scary. I was struggling to breathe at one point.

“My wife had symptoms too and was struggling with her chest, she said it was like someone was pushing down on it. It felt like I had shingles all across my back.”

Foggy said he had not had an official test to see if he was positive for the virus as he was worried it would be using resources that are needed elsewhere.

He said: “I don’t know for sure if it’s coronavirus, but I don’t know what else it could be. I’ve been ill before and I do catch colds quite easily but not like this, this was something completely new.

“I’ve not taken the test as I don’t want to take it away from someone else who needs it more than me, the NHS staff and those still working.”

Despite struggling to breathe and not being able to shake a cough, the 54-year-old, who was crowned King of the Jungle on the 2014 series of I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here, thinks he is through the worst of it.

“It’s eased off slightly now, but I’ve just been trying to stay healthy,” he said. “I had my head over a steaming bowl of hot water with Vicks Vaporub in it, and have been trying to get lots of vitamin D and C.

“I’ve been drinking lots of orange juice and lemon and honey, things like that.

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“I’m not an expert but if people do feel like they’ve got symptoms I’d say try not to stress or panic too much as it’ll make it worse. Try relaxing and getting loads of rest.”

The main symptoms are a high temperature and a new, continuous cough.

If you have these symptoms, stay at home and follow NHS advice, provided via the 111 online coronavirus service.