A prominent Liverpool councillor was facing multiple organ failure and required emergency surgery after suddenly falling ill.
Cllr Nick Small, who represents the city centre for Labour is spending his 49th birthday today (Sunday) recovering from surgery after a sudden and worrying health issue.
Cllr Small said he had been "floored" by what he thought was a bug over the Christmas period and had no energy or appetite. He also had a bump that had emerged on the back of his neck.