'My dad fell over with heat stroke - now he's got days to live after doctors' discovery'

A man was heartbreakingly given days to live by his doctors, after he originally went to hospital with heatstroke.

Clive Tyrell, 67, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, sepsis, and pneumonia, all while recovering from heart palpitations and fluid in his lungs.

Doctors broke the devastating news to Clive's son, Peter, 41, last week, after he spent four weeks in hospital. Nurses also told him that he had anywhere between a few days and a few weeks to live.

Peter is now urging everyone to spend as much time with their family as possible, while also putting "passion, integrity and energy" into living their life.

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"I've got lots of friends and I tell them 'just drop what you're doing for your family'", Peter told the Mirror. "Who cares about money? Money can be made, so spend as long as you can with them. You need to find a way to put so much passion, integrity and energy into living your life, so when the time comes and it's the end of your life, and you're going to see them again, you've got so much to talk about and they'll be so proud of you."

Clive had a couple of strokes two years, but was surprised when he heard the diagnosis. He fell over at the time, and didn't even realise they were strokes, said Peter. He didn't even go to hospital until a few months after the fall.

But, it meant that he had reduced mobility, used a zimmer frame, and had a stair lift.

"Five weeks ago, I was at work and I was told he's been taken to hospital because he fell over at the bottom of the stairs and he had heat stroke," Peter said.

While in hospital, Clive developed heart palpitations, so doctors had to jump start his heart. They also later removed fluid from his lungs. His nodes were inflamed, so the doctors carried out a series of tests and were waiting for the results.

"They got the results back last week, and they said he's got sepsis, and he's got Hodgkin's lymphoma - which is cancer," said Peter. "It's all over the body and the cancer's fighting against sepsis, and the sepsis isn't helping his blood to take in any of the medicine. He's also got pneumonia, so last week they told us he's got weeks or days to live.

"My mind's just preparing like 'Okay, live in the moment - I'm not sure when he could die'. Today I got a call saying that we've got a choice to turn off the life support because it's not helping him."

Peter asked for one more day before the life support was switched off, so he could prepare a touching send-off for his dad. "He may not survive, but I want to do something for him, at least while he's alive. Maybe bring back a few memories with pictures. I don't know, I mean, I'm not sure if it's going to help, but I hope maybe when he passes, at least he knows. I know he's not fully there now, but at least he'll know that his memories haven't been forgotten."

Peter organised a GoFundMe to help raise some money toward his funeral. He wrote: "I’m not asking for a lot or more than needed, because I just want to give him a really great send off, so he realises everything he's done for us in these years hasn't gone unnoticed."

The former Wagamama chef had been using social media to showcase a light-hearted approach to the heartbreaking tragedy, using his Instragram account @peterjamestyrrell. He also urged anybody in a similar position to get in touch with him if they're struggling. He'd be happy to meet for coffee to talk about the grieving process, as well as mental health.

For now, Peter said his plan was to cremate his dad, when the time comes. He'll put the ashes together with his mum's, because "it's just better for them to be together".

You can donate to Peter's GoFundMe to help cover the cost of Clive's funeral