A vicar today told how he fought back from the brink of death after suffering a fall in church.

The fall left the Rev Bob Magor with a black eye, cuts and bruises. But he didn't know that he was also suffering from blood clots on the brain.

It was only when he was rushed to hospital after suffering severe headaches that the clots were discovered - and he is now set to be installed as vicar of St Aidan's Church in The Fairway, Leigh, on Sunday.

Mr Magor was due to become vicar of St Aidan's in October last year.

But as he prepared to take over from his predecessor, Chris Elliot, he began suffering severe headaches and was finally rushed to hospital where doctors discovered a number of blood clots in his brain.

It emerged that a fall he suffered in July at his previous church in Plaistow in East London had caused the clots.

But it had taken three months to affect him, and for two weeks he was monitored closely by specialists in the intensive care unit at Oldchurch Hospital in Romford.

Today he spoke of his recovery and paid tribute to doctors and nurses at the hospital for saving his life.

He said: "When I had the fall I thought I had just suffered a bit of a black eye and cuts and bruises. Otherwise I felt fine but clearly I wasn't. I just didn't know. Then I just started getting these really severe headaches. They were very bad and I lost the sight in one eye as a result.

"I knew then that something was seriously wrong"

Since Christmas Mr Magor, 52, has been making a good recovery but sadly he has lost the sight in his right eye.

He said: "It's been quite hard but I've been able to come to terms with it. One eye is better than none at all."

The former car mechanic, who was ordained in the church in 1993, also paid tribute to wife Angela, children David, ten, and Alice, five, his colleagues and friends.

He said: "They have been very supportive and have been a big part of my recovery."

Rev Philip Banks, spokesman for the Bishop of Chelmsford the Rt Rev John Perry, said: "These past months have been very hard for Bob and his family and his recovery has been a wonderful answer to prayer."

Sunday's service starts at 6pm and will be attended by the Archdeacon of South-end the Venerable David Jennings, the Bishop of Bradwell the Rt Rev Laurie Green, Southend Mayor Tony North, and Southend West MP David Amess.

Recovered - The Rev Bob Magor back in fine form at his new church

Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

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