A HERO medic from Weymouth is finally able to celebrate being made an MBE after being awarded the prestigious honour whilst recovering from severe sepsis.

As previously reported, former soldier Wayne Ingram was given the accolade in the 2021 Queen's birthday honours list for his fundraising efforts whilst fighting for his life in Dorset County Hospital.

Mr Ingram, 51, a volunteer helicopter medic who spent time during the pandemic repatriating Covid-19 patients from their places of work on the North Sea back to mainland Britain, believes he developed the life threatening illness after being bitten by an insect and the bite became infected.

READ MORE: Wayne Ingram receives MBE while battling sepsis at DCH

His MBE was awarded to him in recognition for charitable services, but former soldier turned NHS paramedic Mr Ingram was focused on recovering in hospital when it as being given out.

In 2017, he became the first British citizen to receive a Humanitarian Award from the Serbian president for his efforts helping Stefan Savic, a Bosnian boy with a rare facial cleft, after he raised £140,000 to pay for the boy to have five operations. Stefan, now 21, is living a full and happy life.

Mr Ingram said: “I’m honoured to have been given an MBE. My headmaster said I wouldn’t make anything of my life, because I left school with very few qualifications. But I joined the military as soon as I could, and have spent my adult life serving my country. So this means a lot. I’m still in shock!”

His other charitable work includes a sponsored bike ride to build a new orphanage in Mauritania, Northwest Africa where he was working as a remote paramedic practitioner.

He also spent seven days on a life raft in Portland Harbour with very limited food and water to raise £15,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Mr Ingram volunteered as a helicopter medic for the South Western Ambulance Service during the first wave of the pandemic, transferring Covid-19 patients from Shetland Islands to mainland Britain.

He developed severe sepsis in early June after being bitten by an insect while walking his dog, and spent more than a week in hospital.

Mr Ingram added: “It came on very quickly and knocked me for six. But I received fantastic care and a lot of antibiotics! And I’m fully recovered now.”

Sepsis is a rare but serious complication of an infection and without quick treatment, sepsis can lead to multiple organ failure and death.

He continues his inspirational and selfless work as an ambassador for the veterans’ hub in Weymouth.