Exclusive By Phil Coleman

Last updated at 11:08, Saturday, 20 September 2008

West Cumbria’s rugby legend Howard Hill has cheated death thanks to his incredible fitness after he contracted a mystery killer bug.

Graham Hill

During his 25 years on the field, Howard has earned a reputation as a tough player whose determination and true grit has helped teams clinch numerous victories.

Now the 33-year-old’s proud father Tony has spoken of how that fighting spirit helped the veteran Whitehaven forward win the battle of his life.

Just two weeks ago, Howard was in top form, 17-stones of rugby talent at the peak of fitness with no inkling of the troubles to come.

With horrifying speed, he was struck down by a virulent bug which put him in intensive care, his life hanging in the balance as his devoted wife Leeanne and his sister Sharon Hailes kept a week-long vigil at his bedside.

The bug left Howard with septicaemia blood poisoning and double pneumonia.

But after a week of treatment in Whitehaven’s West Cumberland Hospital, the prayers of his family – including his and Leeanne’s eight-year-old daughter and five-year-old son – have been answered.

Doctors say that Howard is now on the road to recovery – almost certainly saved by his strength and fitness.

Speaking exclusively to the News & Star, Tony, 59, described how the illness struck Howard down with devastating force and how medical staff helped him beat the odds to survive.

He said: “It all started two weeks ago when Whitehaven played Leigh, and then on the Monday Howard’s hand started to swell up.

“He went to the hospital for an X-ray and that confirmed nothing was broken. They just thought it was bruising.

“That night, he went for a meal with Leeanne and the kids to a Chinese restaurant in Whitehaven. Afterwards, he was literally unable to stand, or even get off his chair.”

Howard’s brother Anthony, 35, rushed to his brother’s aid, helping Leeanne get him into the car, everybody suspecting that the cause of the problem was a slipped disc.

Tony said: “Howard’s as tough as old boots, but a lovely guy. He never wants to give in, and that’s what he’s like when he’s playing: he takes the knocks and carries on.”

Forced to stay away from his job as a Sellafield rigger, Howard stayed at home, expecting his pain to wear off with rest.

But alarm bells began to ring when his wife, who is a nurse, noticed that his speech was beginning to slur.

“At first, we thought he was having too many pain killers,” recalled Tony, who lives with Howard’s mother Patricia, 58, at Richmond, Hensingham.

“But Leeanne was very concerned because he seemed to be getting worse so they took him to the hospital.”

As he struggled for breath, Howard was soon so ill that he had to be admitted to intensive care, where doctors placed him on a ventilator.

“He was admitted on the Thursday night a week ago, and by the Friday, they were preparing us for the worst,” said Tony.

“But then he started to improve, and by Saturday they were talking of a miracle.

“The doctors were saying that it was his fitness that has brought him through this. He’s got such determination – it must have made a difference to his chances.

“He trains every day and about three times a week with the club. He’s played rugby since the age of eight. It’s always been a big part of his life and he’s really popular with his mates.”

Though he remains very poorly, Howard – sedated so that he does not remove his breathing tube – is now slowly beginning to wake up.

“He’s rallying round,” said Tony. “Now and again, he’ll open his eyes and looks at us, giving a little smile.

“I wouldn’t wish this experience on my worst enemy. They say it was a killer bug that attacks your immune system, but they have sent swabs away for analysis.”

The first public hint of the drama came last weekend when his team mate Gregg McNally dedicated Haven’s stunning play-off victory over Halifax to Howard.

Tony is convinced that Howard’s plight helped to inspire his team mates.

He said: “I think it gave them the grit to go through with that match and win.

“It wasn’t just words, their dedicating the match to him – they meant it.”

That affection is mutual: Howard – who made 34 Super League appearances for Oldham in the early 1990s – has had a glittering career, his abilities attracting persistent interest from talent spotters in Leeds and Wigan.

But Howard’s heart has always been with his home team, said Tony.

“As far as he’s concerned, there’s no better feeling than running out onto the pitch to the sound of your home crowd shouting for you.

“He’s had offers to go to other teams but he wanted to stay here. It means a lot to have his family and friends around him. I’m as proud as punch of him. We’ve been getting sympathy calls from morning to night and loads of cards.

“Now we just want to get him home.”

Supporters at last night’s match unfurled a Get Well Soon banner for Howard, dedicated from “all Haven fans”.

Tony said that Leeanne, 32, and the rest of the family wanted to say a heartfelt thank you to the dedicated medical staff who had done such a wonderful job of looking after Howard and supporting his family.

First published at 11:43, Friday, 19 September 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk