AS DEATH closes in on him, David Trow’s dying wish is to raise awareness of his condition to help save the lives of others.

Mr Trow, from Sherston, suffers from Haemochromatosis, which creates high levels of iron in the blood.

The 70-year-old married father and grandfather is now at Royal United Hospital in Bath and has been told he could be dead in days, due to a liver tumour and infection caused by his condition.

Because Mr Trow knew very little about Haemochromatosis, he did not spot the symptoms until it was too late – but he is determined to make sure others do not suffer the same fate.

Speaking of his quest to raise awareness of the inherited condition, which affects one in 200 people, he said: “It is a civil duty, there is nothing in it for me.

“If I can help to give people some warning and not go through this, then that is one tick in my go to heaven sheet.

"I am in here and I am dying. I cannot do anything to stop myself from dying but I might be able to help someone else. ”

Janet Fernau, director of the Haemochromatosis Society, which supports people with the condition, said some of the main symptoms are fatigue and arthritis with pain in the knuckles and feet.

“Many people have never heard of it and they are not going to pick it up through the symptoms,”she said.

She said that David was an example of the many people who suffer from the condition because it is not diagnosed early enough. A blood test called the serum ferritin can detect whether a person has dangerous iron levels and save lives.

 Other symptoms of Haemochromatosis include abnormal bronze or grey skin colour and abdominal pain.

As well as the serum ferritin test, other ways GPs can diagnose the condition is by looking at medical and family history and a physical exam.

David, who is being forced to spend the festive period in hospital due to his poor health said he wanted to send out a positive message to Standard readers at Christmas.

He said: “Use your time to the fullest, you never know what day will be your last day. Be kind to your family and friends and be a good citizen.”

For more information on Haemochromatosis  visit www.haemochromatosis.org.uk