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He cheated death after collapsing at his home.

And now a Huddersfield man has raised hundreds of pounds for the wards and nursing staff that helped save his life.

Steve Howard has raised between £750 to £1000 after lifting a staggering 60 tonnes in a weight-lifting challenge at Sovereign Fitness in Shelley.

The 55-year-old repeatedly lifted weights for three hours - with the total lifted being the staggering sum.

And his effort came after nurses told him that he would never be able to practise the sport again.

Steve, of Equilibrium flats in Plover Road, Lindley, beat his own target of 40 to 50 tonnes despite being struck down by a host of life-threatening conditions that left him in a medically-induced coma and dependent on a colostomy bag.

He said that despite asthma he had until then lived a relatively healthy life but was ‘absolutely thankful’ for the work Huddersfield Royal Infirmary’s medical teams on the intensive care unit, medical assessment unit and ward 10 did to save his life.

He said: “Those who looked after me have done a terrific job and I just wanted to thank them for their work by raising some money.

“If it wasn’t for them I know that I would not be here today and I think that being able to lift that weight has proven how far I have come.”

The Halifax McVities production operator was first admitted to the hospital in September 2010 after a severe asthma attack, before being re-admitted to undergo a triple hernia operation the following November.

In January 2011, whilst recovering from the surgery, he called an ambulance whilst feeling unwell and was diagnosed with pneumonia upon waking up from a coma five days later.

One week after he was allowed to go home he was readmitted, when he was found to be suffering from blood clots on both lungs.

This was followed by a large operation to remove his large intestine and rectal muscle, after doctors diagnosed him with ulcerative colitis.

Steve said: “Most of my problems started when I was recovering from my hernia operation in January 2011.

“I just felt that something wasn’t right and called the ambulance.

“Doctors told my friend that had I not called the ambulance when I did I would have died within the hour.

“What happened to me was scary, especially because my mum had died from pneumonia at the same age I then was, but I learnt that I had to sink or swim and fought every problem that was thrown at me after that.”

Now back to better health, he said that his sudden bouts of illness has made him re-evaluate his life and he plans to leave his job to become a mobility sports injury masseuse this Spring.

He said: “It certainly has made me more committed to do what I want to do.”

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