A HALE man whose life was saved by cutting edge treatment has been honoured at a donor centre.

Staff at Plymouth Grove Donor Centre paid tribute to local platelet recipient Sam Roden by naming a donation area after him.

Sam was honoured by NHS Blood and Transplant at the naming ceremony and his story and image takes pride of place on a pedestal in the donor centre.

Sam, 47, from Hale Barns, was a fit and healthy father-of-two when he was suddenly struck down with acute pneumonia which soon became life threatening, in 2012.

Sam had to be put into a medically induced coma and at one point his family were told that he might not survive

During his treatment, Sam was given numerous platelet transfusions and remained in intensive care for four weeks.

Sam is now fully recovered and has since supported NHS Blood and Transplant and helped to raise awareness of the need for blood donors.

Sam said: “I was immensely grateful to all blood and platelet donors who helped save my life.

"Encouraging others to become donors, to help people like me, was what I decided to do as my gesture to say thank you.”

Platelets are the clotting factors in the blood which help to stem blood loss. They only have a shelf life of seven days so it is vital that stocks are constantly replenished.

Amanda Eccles, senior marketing coordinator, said of the donation area ceremony, which took place on may 14: “We hope that by having an area named after Sam and having information about how his life was saved by donors displayed in the centre, we will be able to inspire a whole new set of blood donors to become platelet donors.”

To find the nearest donor centre or to book an appointment call 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk/platelets