Rev Tim Hatwell is back at work, after being one of the first patients in the UK to develop a post-vaccine blood clot. He's now recovered, thanks

The race to treat post-vaccine blood clots

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2021-05-29 13:00:06

Rev Tim Hatwell is back at work, after being one of the first patients in the UK to develop a post-vaccine blood clot. He's now recovered, thanks to the swift action of doctors in identifying the syndrome and learning how best to treat it.

If Rev Hatwell looks familiar, it could be because you remember him from the comedy film Love Actually. The director, Richard Curtis, wanted a real-life vicar to preside over the marriage of Keira Knightley and Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Rev Hatwell got the part.

Rev Hatwell, who is 67, had his first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in early February, and began feeling unwell around 10 days later. He developed flu-like symptoms and initially thought he had Covid. But after two negative tests his condition worsened.

Hospital tests excluded heart trouble and he was discharged. But on the way home his haematologist rang to say he had a very low platelet count and needed to come back.