A man who missed his wedding when he was in hospital fighting a flesh-eating disease will finally get married today.

Just days before Russell Kimble was due to marry Verity Ager, his partner of 15 years, he was taken ill with necrotising fasciitis.

The Gillingham FC matchday DJ was fighting for his life and Ms Ager was told her husband-to-be had just two hours to live.

Mr Kimble, 39, of Princes Park, Chatham, survived, but the infection affected his back and groin area and he had to have a skin graft, which was secured with more than 300 staples.

The pair have now rearranged their wedding, which takes place one day before Mr Kimble’s 40th birthday.

He said at the time: “I felt like I had been hit by a bus. I was 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.”

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

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.

“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 father-of-two has been raising money for The Lee Spark Foundation, which researches into the rare disease and raises awareness among medical staff to diagnose the condition early.