A charity campaigner was yesterday (Monday) seriously ill with malaria.

Merlin Matthews, 27 - called Mr Bike because he runs charity Re-Cycle which sends old bicycles to poor countries - nearly died when he contracted the most deadly strain, cerebral malaria, after visiting Africa.

He was unconscious for nine days and was fighting for his life in the intensive care unit at Colchester General Hospital.

But now he has improved and been transferred to a specialist malaria unit at Middlesex Hospital.

Family and friends of Mr Matthews, of High Street, West Mersea, have been visiting him and he has been inundated with get well messages from around the world.

He was in Ghana doing charity work and fell ill about four days afterwards while on holiday in Greece with his partner Maxine Craik.

The couple, who have a daughter called Achala, two next month, flew home and he was taken to Colchester General Hospital where his lungs collapsed and he deteriorated.

Miss Craik said: "He was fighting for his life, he nearly died but he is now over the worst and gained consciousness five days ago."

Miss Craik added: "He has done so much good work. He never thinks of himself, always about others. He is such a nice man it is rotten that this has happened."

She said he had not taken malaria tablets before or during his trip as he had an upset stomach.

But she was hopeful he would be out of intensive care this week, though would likely have to spend another month in hospital.

Malaria factfile

Malaria, an infectious parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes, is common in Asia and virtually all of Africa.

Symptoms include fever and an enlarged spleen.

Travellers are advised to take a course of anti-malarial tablets before, after and during visits to affected countries.

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