A RISING sprint star from Inverclyde was rushed to hospital after he was suddenly struck down by a potentially deadly lung infection.

Drew McIntyre, who is aiming to compete at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, became unwell after attending a special camp for the country’s top young athletes.

His quick-thinking mum Sharon realised that something was seriously wrong with her son and took him straight to Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

Drew’s condition was so serious that doctors and nurses immediately gave him fluids intravenously through a drip and put him on oxygen.

The 18-year-old was stunned when he was then told he had pneumonia – and would be kept in hospital for days.

Drew, a former Inverclyde Academy pupil, told the Tele: “When my mum said she was taking me to hospital I said I didn’t want to go as I thought I was fine.

“Even when I got to Inverclyde Royal I said I wasn’t staying, but the next thing I knew I was getting bloods taken and there were wires everywhere.

“I was put on a drip for fluids and I was also put on a nebuliser.

“When I was diagnosed with pneumonia it was a shock and I think my mum and dad were shocked too.”

Drew, of Greenock’s Dalmoak Road, said he had been feeling a bit under the weather, but had no idea how unwell he actually was.

He said: “My dad had driven me down to Loughborough on the Friday night as I was attending a British Athletics programme there.

“On the Saturday I felt okay, just shattered and a bit shivery.

“After the event, we went back up the road as I was working on the Sunday.”

But Drew’s condition rapidly took a turn for the worse while working at the local Iceland store.

He added: “After I did my shift on the Sunday I felt terrible, achy and weak.

“Everyone in the shop was saying to me that I looked chalk white.

“When I got home my mum was worried and said she was taking me to hospital.”

Drew, who trains six days a week with Inverclyde Athletic Club and is also at the City of Glasgow College studying sports therapy, spent four days in hospital recovering.

He said: “When I was in hospital I texted my coach Kenny Morrison to tell him that I wouldn’t be at training because I had pneuumonia!

“I think he was a bit surprised.”

Drew’s spirits were lifted when he received a visit from his training group.

He said: “The training group came up to visit which was good of them, although they had a bit of a laugh at my expense.”

Drew is now on the road to recovery and is back on track, only two weeks after being struck down.

He said: “I feel not bad, I’m back training again.

“I think having pneumonia has given me more motivation.

“I’m now looking forward to competing in the 110m New Year Sprint in Musselburgh this weekend.

“Then I’ll be going to Tenerife in April for some warm weather training.

“My main aim is to get to the 2018 Commonwealth Games.”

Drew is keen to thank everyone who supported him when he took unwell, including his parents Sharon and Andy, his training group - including Shaun Tonner, Mark Magee and Scott McCluckie - his workmates at Iceland and his coach Kenny.