Emil Karlsson, 41, was bitten by a tick on his property in Blidö in the Stockholm Archipelago in 2019, which led to him contracting TBE and becoming wheelchair-bound.

Emil had delayed his TBE vaccination and had only received one dose before the tick bite.

The inflammation in his spinal cord and brain nearly cost him his life.

Four years later, he remains in a wheelchair and is unable to do the things he once loved.

He now urges people to get vaccinated against TBE and advocates for free TBE vaccinations for everyone.