HE is recovering in hospital after losing three limbs and parts of his face to a flesh-eating bug but is already determined he will play an amputee golf competition. So imagine Alex Lewis’ delight when an email pinged through from none other than his golfing hero Justin Rose.

The US Open champion, who has 318,000 followers on Twitter, sent a message of support to the young dad last week and again after reading the young dad’s emotional story in the Daily Echo.

As reported exclusively in Saturday’s paper, Alex was left fighting for his life in a coma after a common cold led to Group A streptococcus and forced his organs to shut down.

But he beat the odds to survive and though he still has no sensation in his remaining hand following 16 hours of surgery, he bravely told how he was keeping positive after realising how precious life is, vowing to walk again in the countryside with his three-year-old son Sam and even has his sights set on playing golf competitively again.

Speaking from Salisbury District Hospital, the 34-year-old, who used to play golf for the county aged 16 and played regularly at Leckford Estate, said: “He said he’d heard about the disease and said it makes you realise the importance of family life, it makes you realise how precious life is. It was just lovely, really, really nice.”

Lucy Townsend, Alex’s partner, who runs Michelin Pub of the Year The Greyhound on the Test in Stockbridge, said Justin Rose sent a further email after reading the article and pledged to pull together items for Alex’s fundraising efforts. He added that Alex was “incredibly brave” and said he was a “good man”, loving the fact he had his sights set on playing amputee golf.

Meanwhile, donations have poured in from the public since the Daily Echo yesterday launched a ‘Do It For Alex’ and urged people across the county to show their support.

In just 12 hours, more than £1,500 was raised for the Al Lewis Trust set up to help fund rehabilitation costs as the couple search for a suitable home and ways for him to re-establish his independence.

The first fundraising event will take place on Saturday from 4.30pm until 7.30pm, organised by hairdresser to the stars Guy Kremer.

Celebrities including TV chef James Martin and Saints star Jay Rodriguez will be at the event held at his Winchester salon to back the couple’s plight.