A YOUNG man from Gourock has told how his life was saved by a rapid liver transplant after he fell desperately ill.

Although he only received his donor organ just a few weeks ago, Scott Beaton is already back on his feet and on the road to recovery.

The 28-year-old had been diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a rare disease of the bile ducts in the liver, when he was just 21.

He has been managing it ever since but became very unwell while living out in Qatar with wife Stacey, who had a job as a teacher in Doha.

Scott said: “I took unwell while over there and ended up in the hospital.

"I lost a lot of blood and had a blood transfusion.

“As soon as I was well enough and at the first opportunity we got on a flight home.”

Scott and Stacey arrived back in June but his health ordeal was far from over and friends and family recently noticed that he appeared quite jaundiced.

When he went for medical checks he was told he would need a liver transplant.

Just days later he received the new lifesaving organ at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Scott, who is a musician, said: “I was told that I had been put on the list for a transplant and just over three days later I was receiving one.

"So I must have been more unwell than I thought.

“I expected to be on the list a lot longer but I was extremely lucky.

“I played a gig on the Saturday night and on the Tuesday I was receiving the transplant.

"It was all so quick and I never really had time to process it, which I think was better because it would have been pretty scary.”

Scott told the Telegraph that he feels that he has a second chance at life and is determined to put it to good use.

He said: “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the generosity of a stranger.

"I believe I am still here for a reason and I want to use my talents to help others.

"Someone saved my life and I want to use it to help other people.”

Scott believes his music is aiding his recovery from the transplant and he is using it as a way to help other people to show his gratitude for all the support and top class care he has had.

Scott, who first picked up a guitar at the age of four after being influenced by his dad, has produced a three track EP and will be donating all of the proceeds to Ardgowan Hospice.

He said: “The EP is quite chilled and will hopefully bring a little sunshine to a rainy day.

“When I was recovering in hospital I was already booking gigs.

"I was determined to get back to playing and it has definitely helped in my recovery.

“I think most people locally know someone who has been helped by the hospice and are always keen to help where they can.

"I posted the link for people to donate and overnight there was £110.”

Ardgowan Hospice say they 'couldn’t be more appreciative of Scott' for deciding to donate the proceeds of Hidden Voices to them.

A spokesperson said: "In a time where it’s getting harder for artists to make a living from their music, it means so much that someone would so selflessly opt to gift this valuable income to helping their community.

"If you love Christmas but can’t take anymore Christmas music, then pre-order Hidden Voices, pop on your headphones and enjoy Scott's early present to your local hospice.

"Your plays will help patients this festive season and beyond."

Scott has thanked the donor and medics who saved his life and everyone else who has been by his side during a remarkable couple of months and says he is now looking to the future.

He said: “People have been so supportive and so generous and I can’t thank them enough.

"Being home has been great because I have had family and friends to support me.

“I don’t know anything about my donor but I am eternally grateful, I have a whole new perspective on things.

“It feels really good to be back playing music and performing gigs.

"Some people think I am crazy but life is for living.

"I plan to take each day as it comes and make the most of it.”

*Inside Voices will be released Friday but is already available to pre-order by visiting https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/scottbeaton/inside-voices