Fitness influencer dies from COVID after previously doubting its existence

A fitness influencer who thought COVID-19 didn't exist has died at the age of 33 after contracting the virus on a trip to Turkey.

When he returned to Ukraine, Mr Stuzhuk underwent a test for coronavirus, which came back positive. To the million followers on social media, he appeared to be in flawless health and promoted sports along with healthy living. Covid-19 cases in North, Central and South America represent about 47.27 per cent or almost half of global cases.

He wrote on his Instagram, "I thought that there was no Covid, until I got sick". "And it is heavy".

Stuzhuk suspected he had coronavirus when he woke up with a swollen neck and breathing difficulties. In Ukraine, he tested positive for the virus and got hospitalized.

"The hospital is completely filled with people, some of them being treated in corridors", he posted.

The trainer said he needed a ventilator to breath, but after eight days he could leave the ward he was on in the hospital in Kyiv.

Ukrainian influencer Dmitriy had a relationship with his ex-wife.

Stuzhuk - who has five million followers - wrote in the fight for life: "Dima (Dmitriy) had problems with his cardiovascular system ..."

"His heart is not coping".

He suffered a clinical death but medics restarted his heart.

His ex-wife Sofia Stuzhuk confirmed the news of Stuzhuk's death in her heartbreaking Instagram post. No-one can do anything with this.

"For the rest of my life I will remain grateful to you for our three handsome children", she wrote. "But nothing depends on me now".

The 25-year-old, who is also an influencer, then shared a second post dedicated to Stuzhuk, featuring another picture of them with their children.

The couple had three children David, Lola and Olivia. It took just 32 days to go from 30 million global cases to 40 million, compared with the 38 days it took to get from 20 million to 30 million, the 44 days between 10 million and 20 million, and the three months it took to reach 10 million cases from when the first infections were reported in Wuhan, China, in early January.

Dmitriy had three kids, one of whom is only nine months old.

They split six months ago after she complained of "constant betrayal, swearing, showdown and stress" but recently said they were back on good terms.

She wrote: "All that remains are warm memories, three handsome children and valuable experiences".

"God, it is so awful to realize that he is no longer with us ..."