Shropshire man given just two days to live wins high-performance car weeks after his remarkable recovery

A Shropshire man who was given just two days to live after developing sepsis and a brain infection has received a timely boost - winning a high-performance car just weeks after returning from hospital.

Mark Ryder spent two months in hospital before he was well enough to return to his home in Broseley. But he received a much-needed change in his luck when he received a surprise knock on his door to tell him he had won a new Audi RS3 Carbon Black Edition weeks after his discharge.

He described the win on the BOTB competition website as the ‘icing on the cake’ following his arduous recovery from the life-threatening illness.

BOTB presenter Nicole Jeffery surprised Mark, inviting him outside where his 400bhp new car was waiting nearby.

"This is unbelievable, and I can't get my head around it,” said an emotional Mark as he was taken to see his prize.

"I've come through a lot and to win this is just the icing on the cake."

Mark, who previously worked as a scaffolder, was without a car at the time of his win, and only had access to a work van, which he was been unable to use while recovering from his illness.

Still undergoing routine check-ups as part of his recovery, he said the prize felt like a welcome slice of good fortune after an incredibly difficult few months.

"When I was told I had two days to live, something in my head said I can pull through this. It's given me some much-needed luck.”

"I never thought I would win anything like this," he said.

Mark had the option of taking a cash prize instead, but said this was never a consideration.

“As soon as I came around the corner, I knew I was going to take the car. I'd never own one like this otherwise.”

Nicole said surprising Mark was one of the most memorable prize deliveries she has been part of.

"Seeing Mark's reaction was incredibly special. He was completely stunned when he realised the Audi was his, and moments like that are exactly why we love doing these surprise reveals," she said.

"After everything he's been through over the last few months, it couldn't have gone to a more deserving winner. To hear that he'd spent two months in hospital, had only been home for a couple of weeks and is now able to celebrate something so positive made this a really emotional visit.”