IT WAS an emotional reunion between a Hampshire businessman and the people who saved his life.

Heath Bland thought he had a cold in early December 2017 but ended up fighting for his life.

The Totton businessman was taken to Southampton General Hospital after suffering chest pains.

What he thought was the flu turned out to be pneumonia and heart-related problems which left him in an induced coma for several weeks.

When his heart stopped for few seconds, he was transferred to the Royal Brompton Hospital in London –the largest specialist heart and lung medical centre in the country.

Now Heath and his brother Richard, a well-known professional golfer, have donated nearly £15,000 to Southampton Hospital Charity after the medics saved his life.

 

Heath said: “It was our way to try to say thank you and in my eyes, it is not enough.

“All you hear is bad things about the NHS and you never hear the good.

“It was great to go back to the hospital and see so many of those who looked after me so well. Many of them are still good friends and I have kept in touch.

“I can’t thank them enough for saving my life and raising this money to help is really important for myself and my brother. The staff at the hospital were brilliant.”

Heath, who grew up in Southampton and now lives in Calmore with his partner, Heidi, and her two children, is the owner of Heath Bland Construction.

Heath came out of his coma in December 2017 but still had a long road to recovery. He was off work for 10 months and even had to celebrate Christmas in the February as he was too ill in December.

He said: “I don’t think I will ever be back to where I was strength-wise. Health-wise, I feel fine.”

The brothers made the donation after holding a special charity day at Stoneham Golf Club in Southampton.

 

The event, held in August, was attended by 60 golfers including many professional golfers and former Saints footballer Matt Le Tissier.

Amateur golfers paid to be paired up with professionals and played the sport in the morning.

In the afternoon, a charity auction was held and all funds raised went to the charity.

Suzie Simmons, head of public fundraising at Southampton Hospital Charity, added: “We would all very much like to thank Heath and Richard and everybody else who contributed.

“This is a phenomenal effort from them all and the money will really contribute to our mission to help patients.”