A DELIVERY driver’s life was saved when his colleagues paid for a brain scan that revealed a life-threatening tumour.

Gary Harris, 38, had been put on a three-month waiting list for an NHS scan but was later told by doctors that he would have died within two weeks had he not had an emergency operation to remove the tumour.

All 60 employees at Park Furnishers, Bristol, paid £12 each — a total of £720 — to cover the cost of having the scan done privately because Mr Harris was convinced that there was something seriously wrong.

Mr Harris, a keen cyclist, said: “My workmates made sure I could live. How can I ever repay or thank them for such unimaginable kindness?” He had experienced dizziness and vomiting over five months, and went to his GP several times. He said: “I could count on one hand the number of times I had visited the doctor before all this. So in November last year, when I started experiencing dizziness and vomiting, I knew something was seriously wrong.”

During the next four months GPs from The Crest Family Practice in Bedminster, Bristol, diagnosed winter vomiting sickness, vertigo, stress and possible eye strain. After one attack of vomiting and numbness he visited an accident and emergency department, where he says that he was told to take ibuprofen and paracetemol.

He said: “Eventually they agreed for me to see a neurologist at the beginning of April. He thought it was neck arthritis from the cycling but said he would put me on the list for a CT scan as a precaution. That wasn’t going to be until July.

“He could have sent me straight away for an emergency scan, but decided not to.

“Then my warehouse manager came and told me to get a private scan and not to worry about the cost. It took my breath away.”

The scan took place on April 27, and revealed a large tumour that had started attaching itself to his brain stem. The next day he was admitted to Frenchay Hospital, where he underwent more tests and had a drain inserted to remove fluid on his brain before undergoing 13 hours of surgery a week later.

Mr Harris said: “The neurosurgeon at Frenchay, Mr Porter, told me without an operation I would have two weeks to live. It would have been a painful and unpleasant death.

“He told me my brain would have been crushed as the tumour was so big. If I had relied on the NHS I would have died seven weeks before the scan they offered me.”

Mr Harris was discharged from hospital on May 17. The surgeon told him that his recovery was remarkable.

Mr Harris’s wife, Kim, 28, with whom he has a daughter, Gracie, 4, has given up her job to look after him.

She said: “For months our lives were on hold. We couldn’t do anything and we just didn’t know what was wrong. When the scan showed up the problem it was almost relief that it had a name.

“Then reality set in that we could be about to lose him. We can’t describe how grateful we are.”

Last week staff at Park Furnishers were handed a note with their payslips from Deryn Coller, the company director. At the top was written: “Last month you saved someone’s life.” He also added £20 to everyone’s pay to thank them.

Alfie Dibble, Mr Harris’s manager, said: “Gary is a great bloke and it was never an option not to help him. Everyone feels very emotional about what he’s been through and proud to have been able to help.”

Mr Harris intends to pursue complaints against the doctors he consulted. The GP surgery declined to comment.