A retired marriage registrar says he was moments from death after being rushed to hospital with blood poisoning.

Kevin O’Brien, from Willesborough, was taken to the William Harvey Hospital in December after falling ill.

It quickly emerged that the grandfather-of-15 was in serious danger after he went into septic shock, with toxins in his blood being carried to all his major organs.

Mr O’Brien said: “It started with just sickness and diarrhoea and developed from there.

"My wife was very worried as I had started becoming incoherent, so we rang 111 and a doctor advised that if I got worse she should ring an ambulance.”

The 65-year-old was moved to resuscitation in the accident and emergency department where he had tubes put into his veins, including one through his neck to reach his heart.

He was put on a dialysis machine and spent three days in intensive care and five days in isolation to prevent any further infection.

Mr O’Brien said: “Every organ was closing down and death was close, it’s alarming how quickly it came on.

"It was horrific, not so much for me, but for my wife and family.”

Wife Sue O’Brien said at first there were fears her husband could have meningitis, but after tests it was revealed he had sepsis.

She said: “They couldn’t get his blood pressure up or his organs to function.

"He was in great danger and it was very traumatic.

“I was frightened stiff that I was going to lose him but the hospital staff were so calm and efficient.

"I was reassured by the way they were handling it, when one thing didn’t work they tried another. They didn’t give up until they had stabilised him.”

Now Mr O’Brien has echoed the praise for the hospital staff, and says that despite the difficulties the NHS is facing, there are still thousands of staff across the country working hard under huge pressure.

He added: “I still get emotional about it. I didn’t know I was close to death and that they were fighting a battle on my behalf.

“I owe my life to the dedicated ambulance crew and staff at the hospital.”