A WORKINGTON man credits his local branch of Specsavers for saving his life.

Darren Scott, 26, an electrician at Sellafield, caught Covid in January 2021.

He said: "After I was negative, the symptoms appeared to remain."

He was coughing, short of breath and had continuous headaches.

He said he went back to his doctor who diagnosed him with long Covid.

Bothered by blurred vision and headaches he then made an appointment for an eye test at Specsavers.

That is when Darren's life took an unexpectedly dramatic turn. He said: "I had a regular eye check and then the man asked if he could do an extra 3D scan, which would cost extra. I agreed."

On completion of the scan, he was immediately referred to the eye clinic at the Cumberland Infirmary.

He said: "They went through the same tests and then asked me to wait because they needed to consult another doctor.

"I was then shown to a side room and the doctor came in and told me I had leukaemia.

"I was immediately taken to the RVI in Newcastle. I can't describe how I was feeling. It was certainly a shock."

It was the beginning of a nightmare.

Darren had three rounds of intensive chemotherapy and caught an infection each time. His treatment included painful spinal injections.

He was in hospital for six weeks on the first occasion and spent a total of 13 months off work.

At one stage the infection and the medication affected his skin.

His mother, Nicola, said he looked as though he was wearing a glove on one hand which was almost stripped of its skin.

When he needed a bone marrow transplant his sister Emma was a 100 per cent match.

"I am so grateful to her. I owe her big time."

Last month, Darren was told he was officially in remission.

Should have gone to Specsavers? Darren did - and it was probably the best decision he has ever made.