Fresh appeal to return stranded Rutherglen man to Scotland for cancer treatment

A fresh appeal is being made made to raise money for a cancer sufferer desperate to return home to Scotland for treatment after being stuck on an island in the Indian Ocean.

A JustGiving page was set up for Jon Paul McAllister, 38, after his health deteriorated rapidly while on holiday with his partner, Craig Park.

They had gone on holiday to South Africa, Madagascar and the Seychelles to celebrate the end of Mr McAllister's chemotherapy treatment and their January engagement.

Since Mr McAllister fell unwell, he has been stuck at a medical facility on the French island Reunion as he is unable to take a commercial flight back to Scotland.

The donation page has reached #22,175 after their situation was reported but the figure is still short of the #35,000 target required to pay for overseas treatment and an air ambulance flight home.

The full costs of hospital treatment are not covered despite Reunion being a part of France.

Mr Park provided an update to say surgery on Friday indicated his partner's tumours had grown considerably and that the cancer was particularly aggressive for someone of his age.

In a video message, Mr McAllister said: I'm in so much pain from everything I do - I've lost my voice, I can barely walk 10ft without fainting - I'm on morphine because of the pain but it still isn't enough to manage it.

"It's really, really dire. I can't sleep, I haven't eaten in four weeks because every time I eat I'm vomiting and bringing the food back up.

"I want to thank people for the outstanding and overwhelming response I've had to my campaign.

"I can't believe how kind and generous people are in giving to a complete stranger.

"It really, really touches me so thank you very much. It's overwhelmingly emotional. Thank you for doing everything you can to get me home."