A personal training company held a 24-hour fundraiser that garnered nearly £6,300 in honour of a Garston man with meningitis.

Simon Tucker, 37, was eventually diagnosed in July and spent a week in an induced coma before making a steady recovery.

His friend Ian Howarth said: “I grew up with Simon, as we lived next door to each other. It was such a shock that he had meningitis as he had originally been told that it was nothing to worry about.”

Simon had called 111 after feeling “under the weather” and was told it was an ear infection. He ended up in A&E at Watford General Hospital as he began to feel worse, where he was told the same thing and given stronger painkillers.

He was then found unconscious the following day by his girlfriend who had gone into his house after not being able to get hold of him.

The 37-year-old was rushed to hospital, where he was put into an induced coma for a week and then spent three weeks in recovery.

Ian added: “You wouldn’t have thought Simon would get meningitis as he was one of the fittest people I know, he has run marathons previously and regularly took part in the Manalive sessions.

“It was upsetting to find out how ill he was, and we were all so shocked about what had happened.”

Watford Observer: The men were carrying heavy loads for 24 hours. The men were carrying heavy loads for 24 hours. (Image: Ian Howarth)

The fundraiser, organised by Watford and Radlett’s Manalive, a personal training company, involved a 24-hour transporter session.

This meant the 50 volunteers were carrying sandbags, flipping a variety of tyres around the pitch on Saturday, October 21 at Fullerians Rugby Club.

Watford Observer: The men were split up into teams of four. The men were split up into teams of four. (Image: Ian Howarth)

Ian added: “I came up with the idea for people to do a continual transporter session and was so shocked by the amount of people who signed up. We did the 24 hours in groups of four with most people doing two one-hour sessions.

“Simon was amazed by the support and couldn’t believe how much money we had raised as we ended up more than doubling the original goal.”

The group decided to donate the money to Headway Hertfordshire, which supports those with brain injuries and helped Simon through his ongoing recovery.