A delivery driver's life was saved after workmates had a whip-round to help him jump the NHS queue and buy a brain scan which revealed a life-threatening tumour.

Colleagues of Garry Harris at a furniture store in Bristol chipped in £12 each to pay for a scan after he was told he would have to wait two months to have one on the NHS. Mr Harris, 38, who had an operation to remove the tumour and is recovering well, yesterday said he would have been dead if his colleagues had not stepped in.

He said: "My workmates made sure I could live. How can I ever repay them or thank them for such unimaginable kindness?" Mr Harris, who has a four-year-old daughter Gracie with his wife Kim said he began experiencing dizziness in November. At the beginning of April doctors said he ought to have a scan but he could not have it until next month.

Mr Harris, who has worked at Park Furnishers for six years was amazed when all 60 fellow employees paid £12 each to cover the cost of the scan. The scan took place at the end of April and showed a large tumour attached to his brain stem. A potentially fatal swelling was pushing on his spinal cord. He underwent an emergency 13-hour operation the next day.

Paul McCoubrie, a consultant radiologist who treated Mr Harris, said it was unlikely the patient would have survived if he had waited for the NHS appointment.

Staff at Park Furnishers yesterday got an extra £20 in their pay as a thank you from company director Deryn Coller.