AN 80-year-old is to cycle almost 100 miles to the Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI) after the hospital saved his life.

David Butland will set off from his Bridlington home to take on the challenge - raising funds for the Bradford Hospitals' Charity - later this month (April 20) to mark the 20th anniversary of his recovery.

In March 2004, David fell seriously ill with an infection that affected his heart, lungs, and kidneys.

He was admitted to BRI’s Intensive Care Unit, where he was sedated and placed on a ventilator.

His wife Judy was told to prepare for the worst.

After spending a month in hospital, he made a remarkable recovery and was well enough to go home.

Judy had been keeping family and friends updated about his condition through daily emails.

“To begin with I had no idea I had been in hospital for a month. I thought it was a matter of days,” he said.

“I read the emails and it seemed as though Judy’s version of events was very different to those I recalled.

"There were incidents that it seemed no one else knew anything at all about.

"She had missed out all the interesting things that I had experienced – or believed I had experienced!”

As a result, the couple decided to combine their versions of David’s hospitalisation and make them into a book, What Happened? – proceeds of which will also go to Bradford Hospitals' Charity.

You can donate to the cause by following this link: https://www.justgiving.com/page/david-butland-1701338288499

The pair, who ran their own business, Bradford University Software Services Ltd before retiring, moved from Bradford to Bridlington.

They were married for 54 years until Judy’s death in 2018.

Since his recovery to good health, David has continued his passion for cycling and last year undertook a phenomenal ride from Rotterdam to Sweden.

He is now in training for his latest challenge – starting from his seaside home and finishing at the place where he says he will be forever grateful for the care he received.

He is hoping to complete the journey in two days, with a stopover with his niece in Wetherby.

“I don’t think Judy would think this latest challenge a good idea, but she’d be happy and proud that I’m raising money for Bradford Hospitals' Charity.

"The care I received at Bradford Royal Infirmary saved my life."

The charity’s head of fundraising Lisa Williams said: “We express our sincere thanks to David for sharing his hospital experiences and for his remarkable dedication in raising funds for Bradford Hospitals' Charity through this 100-mile cycling journey from Bridlington to Bradford."