IT'S good to be alive and kicking.

Ivan Rubery is celebrating the sixth anniversary of having his life saved - by running the famous 26.2 mile London marathon.

But in August 1992, the computer operator, of Redstock Close, Westhoughton, was on the operating table fighting for his life after a rare heart virus had left him close to death.

Ivan - who will be 32 next week - was a fit and active soldier when he picked up a virus on an exercise in Scotland.

The potentially fatal bug settled in the muscles of his heart.

Doctors thought they had cleared the illness - known as pericarditis - with medication. But two years later it returned.

His heart became dangerously swollen and he struggled to breathe. Ivan said: "I nearly died.

"When I was eventually referred to hospital, it was a bit of a mystery to them just what was wrong with me.

"They hadn't seen it before - it's almost unheard of.

"They had a choice - either operate or let me die."

After a two-hour operation at Wythenshawe Hospital, skilled surgeons managed to save him.

Ivan said: "All I can remember is coming round in the intensive care and I wanted to speak to my mum but I couldn't because I had a big pipe in my mouth.

"I thought they had cut my tongue out.

"And the only way I can describe the pain is like a herd of buffalo stampeding across your chest.

"It was quite a harrowing experience to go through."

Six years on he's fit and healthy, and doing a lot of sport, including running.

He has already done the Great North Run in Newcastle, the Manchester Half Marathon and a half marathon in Worcestershire.

He hopes his strenuous exercise routine of running between 25 and 30 miles per week will see him over the finishing line in London on April 26 in three hours or less.

He also does a few hours in the gym with help from coaches at the MKM Health Studio in Bolton, who have devised his training programme.

Ivan is hoping to raise hundreds of pounds for the British Heart Foundation as he runs alongside the 30,000 other competitors.

Anyone who wishes to sponsor him can ring him on 01942 815125.

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