A BISHOPS Lydeard man given just months to live is determined to defy medical opinion for the third time.

Andy 'Rat' Gilbert stunned doctors when he fought off an aggressive throat cancer eight years ago and survived being in a coma for six days in 2015.

But the intensive radiotherapy treatment he received has left him with an incurable lung disease that means he is on oxygen 24 hours a day.

"I'm hoping to prove the doctors wrong again," said Rat, aged 60, who lives in Darby Way.

"Being realistic, I've had eight years I shouldn't have had because they never expected me to get through the cancer and they said I'd be brain dead after being in a coma for six days when I was in intensive care for 16 days.

"It meant I've been able to see my four children and two stepchildren grow up, as well as seeing my eight grandchildren.

"But I'll fight it as best I can."

Rat, who worked in the building industry and felling timber, underwent seven weeks of radiotherapy five times a week and chemotherapy once a week in Bristol for seven weeks after being diagnosed with throat cancer in April 2009.

Having survived that and a relapse two years ago that led to him being hospitalised, he received the all-clear for cancer.

But three weeks ago, a consultant at Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital gave him the bad news that he has only a few months left.

"The radiotherapy I had is causing me all the problems now and I've been diagnosed with bronchiectasis - basically my lungs are shutting down," said Rat, who used to play rugby for Wiveliscombe.

"The diagnosis wasn't really a shock because my body's gradually getting worse and worse.

"I've been nil by mouth for three years and have all my food and drink through a tube in my stomach and I've also lost my right jaw.

"Up until six months ago I was still out and about enjoying the countryside, but every day gets harder and harder."

Rat is hoping to attend a fundraising event, in aid of Cancer Research UK and Musgrove's intensive care unit, at Brompton Ralph Cricket Club, where he used to play, on Saturday from 3pm, when there will be a hog roast and auction.

He said: "I'm determined to be there if I possibly can - they saved my life and I'd like to give something back by helping raise some money for them."