A Shepton Mallet woman has praised blood donors after a terrifying post-surgery bleed left her fighting for her life.

Megan Ward, 29, suffered what she described as a "river of blood" pouring from her mouth after a routine tonsillectomy went disastrously wrong.

Now, she's backing a major NHS breakthrough as, for the first time in 25 years, lifesaving plasma medicines are being made from donations in England.

Megan had her operation in July 2023 but six days later, she started coughing up blood.

"It was like someone had stabbed me and the blood just burst out. It was terrifying," she said.

Megan collapsed and was rushed to hospital. In resuscitation, she went into hypotensive shock, her hands turning blue.

"I remember a nurse saying I'd gone waxy white and grey. I was fading in and out. It was absolutely traumatic," she said.

Doctors gave her albumin, a lifesaving medicine made from blood plasma, to restore her blood pressure.

"My arm tingled as it went in. It was like water rushing through my veins. Within hours, I went from completely out of it to awake, aware, and able to stand. It was a miracle."

For the first time in a quarter of a century, NHS patients are getting plasma medicines made from blood donated in Somerset and across England, cutting reliance on imports.

Over the last three years, blood donors in Somerset have supplied 10,000 litres of plasma, enough to make 4,500 bottles of immunoglobulin, a vital medicine used by around 17,000 people in England each year.

Hundreds of South West patients receive the treatment annually, many at specialist centres in Bristol and Bath.

Megan, who works in safeguarding, took eight months to fully recover. But now, she's back playing hockey and is urging more people to roll up their sleeves.

"I am so grateful to everyone who donates blood. You're not just helping people with red blood cells—now your plasma is saving lives too."

Daniel Cooper, NHS Blood and Transplant Assistant Director, said: "Thanks to amazing blood donors in Somerset, patients are now receiving plasma medicines made in England for the first time in 25 years."

"We need more donors to help make even more of these medicines. Your donation is now helping save lives in new ways."

Sign up to donate at blood.co.uk.