He and partner Carol were to have been married within weeks, yet wedding plans were put on hold as he battled for his life at a Sydney hospital.

The infection eventually led to the amputation of both his legs beneath the knee, while he also lost his left arm under the elbow and two fingers on his right hand.

Surgery for a debilitating heart condition also set back his recovery.

However last month, almost a year after he was struck down by the sudden illness, Mr Harris was able to return home and he’s now vowing to walk again.

‘’My family kept me alive,’’ Mr Harris said on Friday. ‘’And now it’s up to me to keep going, to achieve as much as I can. 

‘’I’m doing rehab at Port Kembla Hospital and I want to walk again, with the help of prosthetics. I want to be able to drive a car. It’s going to be a long process but I’m up for the challenge.’’

It was that determination that kept him going throughout the long months in hospital, said his now-wife Carol.

The couple – who have six children at home – was married in hospital, but renewed their vows in front of family and friends at a special ceremony late last month.

‘’Twelve months ago our lives changed forever when Darren came down with a vomiting bug, which got so severe I took him to Shellharbour Hospital,’’ Mrs Harris said.

‘’He deteriorated and was airlifted to Sydney and I was told that he wouldn’t make it through the night.

‘’We took it minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, month by month. But he was determined to get home for his family, and he has.’’

Mrs Harris said a fundraiser organised by her husband’s employer Mitchell's Wholesale Providores helped the family through.

‘’Without that support we would have lost our house,’’ she said.

Now family have set up a campaign to help the family with ongoing expenses. Visit www.mycause.com.au/page/140633/darrens-battle