Russell Kimble’s family was told he only had two hours to live as a flesh-eating bug spread through his body.

The Gills’ matchday DJ was fighting for his life as the disease took control of his body.

And, after he beat the bug and was recovering in hospital, Russell missed his own wedding to his partner of 15 years, Verity Ager.

Instead of walking down the aisle, she was by his bedside.

Russell, 39, of Princes Park, Chatham, had been discharged from hospital in April after having an abscess drained, but he knew something was still wrong.

After seeking advice from a nurse, Mr Kimble was referred back to hospital where doctors then discovered he had the flesh-eating bug necrotising fasciitis.

He said: “I felt like I had been hit by a bus. I was then taken down to the operating theatre where they started to cut away the dead flesh and stop it spreading. I was fighting for my life hours after being readmitted.

“Doctors told my family I was two hours away from dying, but I survived.”

Verity, 45, said: “The whole saga was an absolute nightmare, but I knew I had to remain strong for all of us.

“The care and dedication that the nurses put into looking after him was just non-stop.”

Russell added: “A lot of people who suffer do not make it through.

“Doctors told my family I was two hours away from dying, but I survived" - Russell Kimble

“I am very happy, lucky and blessed to be alive. Family and friends were amazing and helped me heal. I can’t begin to imagine what I put them all through.”

The couple are now planning their wedding for Saturday, October 12 - the day before his 40th birthday.

Mr Kimble added: “The Gills were brilliant too. Even Martin Allen found the time to write about me in the programme, and leave me a voicemail.”

Now the father-of-two is raising money for The Lee Spark Foundation, which researches into the rare disease and raises awareness among medical staff to catch and diagnose the fast-spreading condition early.

He said: “The foundation offered my family support during my long time in hospital and have given me plenty of time and support since.”

He will be holding a bucket collection at the Gills v Brentford match at Priestfield today, where some of the nurses who cared for him will be in the crowd.