My brother was an anti-vaxxer - now it’s cost him his life
ABODYBUILDING colleague and friend of a “superfit” dad-of-one who died after turning down the vaccine is holding an emotional show in his memory.
Paul Remmer paid tribute to 42-year-old John Eyres, from Southport, who fell victim to Covid-19 just four weeks after he was climbing Welsh mountains and wild camping.
The ironman, who had a 19-year-old daughter, had declined the vaccine believing he would only be mildly ill if he got infected.
But the dad-of-one died after suffering an infection and organ failure four weeks after testing positive for Covid.
Mr Remmer announced he is staging a show in York on October 23 and spoke of his gratitude towards the Sefton man who “took him under his wing” during his first bodybuilding show together five years ago.
He still has the shorts John gave him in 2016 when they struck a bond and became firm friends and plans to wear them in York at the autumn show.
The 43-year-old, a former world champion, told the Visiter: “When we first met at my first show, I didn’t have a clue and I was lost.
“John took me under his wing and saw me through and we’ve been pals from that day.
“He was an amazing guy and such a big loss to a lot of people.
“John was polite and I thought of him as “Sport Billy” as he was good at all sports, hockey, rock climbing, everything.
“He was a fun guy and lived for the now.”
Sister Jenny, who lives in North West London, says her brother told his consultant he wished he was vaccinated before going onto a ventilator.
Writing online, she said: “My 42-year-old twin brother died in ITU of Covid-19 last week.
“He died exactly four weeks after testing positive.”
Jenny says her brother was “pumped full of every drug in the hospital” but he tragically passed away from the virus.
She said: “They threw everything at him. But eventually the bedfellow of Covid-19, infection and organ failure, claimed his life.
“Before he was ventilated he told his consultant that he wished he had been vaccinated. That he wished he had listened. His death is a tragedy. It shouldn’t have happened. He leaves a mum and dad, a sister (me), and a 19-year-old daughter.”
Paul, a dad-of-two, added: “I was heartbroken when I heard the terrible news.
“I broke down, and couldn’t get my head round it.
“He loved life, being outdoors and for him to be taken away is so sad.”
Mr Eyers worked as a senior management and technical specification professional within the construction industry for chemical manufacturing company Kerakoll.
Last month, as he lay ill, his sister Jenny wrote: “To all anti-vaxxers, my staunch, anti vaxxer, nonmask wearing, 42-year-old twin, is now in hospital with Covid and pneumonia.
“Rushed in an ambulance as struggled to breathe.
“Quite simply, if he’d had the vaccine, he wouldn’t be.
“Get the vaccine.’