PROUD dad Keith Ratcliffe has a special reason to celebrate Father's Day this year, now the son he once nearly lost to meningitis has returned safely from the war in Iraq.

Lee Ratcliffe, 18, of Yockney Close in Corsham, is enjoying a few weeks' leave after spending three months in Iraq with the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment.

But his burning ambition to take up a career in the Army was nearly thwarted when at the age of 13 he contracted meningococcal septicaemia - an often fatal illness that can also cause the loss of limbs.

"The first night we were told he had only a 15 per cent chance of surviving," said Keith Ratcliffe.

"As soon as they said it was meningitis I thought - that's it. We're going to lose him.

"But he came through it and although he was very tired and weak afterwards I think it made him more determined than ever.

"He took the bull by the horns to get fit and go through the phase one training first time."

Now Mr Ratcliffe wants to let people know meningitis does not necessarily mean the end of a life and to promote the work of the Meningitis Trust, which supports sufferers and raises awareness of the illness.

Lee Ratcliffe became ill in August 1998, while on holiday with his father, his mum Jacqui and little brother Craig.

Lee already dreamed of joining the Army and was a keen member of the local army cadet group.

He was tired and a little unwell for a couple of days, which his parents put down to weariness after a cadet camp.

Then one night he went downhill rapidly, vomiting and developing the tell-tale rash that does not fade under pressure. Lee was rushed into St John's Hospital in Leeds.

He spent two-and-a-half days on a life support machine, suffered a perforated lung and came close to dying.

His parents sat with him all the time, waiting anxiously for signs of a recovery.

Luckily their son pulled through, and was released from hospital after several weeks.

But it took many months for Lee to make a full recovery and he had to battle to regain the fitness he needed to join the Army.

The illness left him weak and debilitated, unable to swim a length of the pool easily.

He suffered severe pains in his legs and had problems with balancing. Like many sufferers, he also endured depression and mood swings.

"It took about 18 months to get my fitness back," said Lee.

"But I think it made me more determined."

He trained at the gym, went running and swimming, and eventually took his phase one training just short of his 17th birthday.

The course included first aid, marching, weapons handling and basic military skills.

It was a gruelling course, with little sleep, but Lee proved a success to follow in his father's and grandfather's footsteps to serve in the Army.

Keith Ratcliffe, now an AA patrolman, served with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and his father was a warrant officer in recruitment.

Lee said the Gulf War had proved a challenging experience, mixing long periods of boredom with short episodes of panic.

He was posted to Kuwait, then travelled to Basra, as a spare crew man for the Challenger II tanks.

Since Lee's illness Mr and Mrs Ratcliffe have been actively involved with the Meningitis Trust, which has a 24 hour helpline and provides support and contacts for the families of meningitis sufferers.

Two years ago, father and son rode mopeds from Land's End to John O'Groats to raise awareness of the trust's work and made more than £2,000 for the charity. Mr Ratcliffe also started a new North Wiltshire branch of the trust shortly after his son's illness.