A 50-year-old Springfield man fought for his life for a second time after contracting a killer disease spread by rats

It happened while he was rescuing his pet dog from a mountain stream in Yorkshire.

Former driving instructor Michael Haley, who underwent a triple heart bypass operation two years ago, suffered liver and kidney failure when he was struck down by Weil's disease earlier this month.

His wife, Rose, was called to his intensive care bed in Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, when he collapsed with breathing difficulties a week after he had been admitted.

She said: "I feared he wouldn't pull through this time, but the medical team at Broomfield have been brilliant and Michael is a real battler.

"We are all praying that his slow recovery will continue.

"Michael must have nine lives. He was in the process of rebuilding his life after suffering two heart attacks when this knocked him for six and put him back on death row."

Mrs Haley said that her husband must have caught the disease while rescuing their dog from a muddy stream at Hardraw Falls, where they were on holiday.

"He had two cuts on one hand which became wet," she said.

The best way to prevent Weil's disease is to avoid swallowing water and to cover all cuts and abrasions if taking part in any recreational activity in or near inland waterways.

Its symptoms are flu-like and severe headaches about 10 days after contact with infected water.

A doctor should be consulted immediately.

Mr Haley and his wife pictured during the holiday in which he contracted Weil's disease.

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