08 April 2020

Rugby legend Gareth Thomas on losing family, fearing for his daughter and being sickened by Boris trolls

Former Wales rugby captain Gareth Thomas has lost family members to the coronavirus and says he is petrified for his daughter who works in the NHS.

The 45 year-old told BBC Radio 5 Live: "This virus has affected me - I have had family members die, I have friends and family in hospital.

"I have someone who has a funeral tomorrow and none of us can go, and my daughter works for the NHS and I am petrified for her. 

"I have all this fear, so I don't just want to share happiness, I want people to see the reality of what is going on in the world right now."

He also added that comments posted about Prime Minister Boris Johnson being in intensive care made him 'feel sick'.

"When I read a lot of messages I felt physically sick - there was one which said they were hoping he dies and it was painful.

"Are we really living in a society where people can justify saying that because they disagree with something he has done or what he represents? That is not justification to want someone dead.

"He's got family, he's got friends and a partner with an unborn child.

"Not long ago on social media we were saying to be kind and all of a sudden a lot of people have forgotten about that."

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