Fan fights the pain to be at Wimbledon for Andy Murray's tilt at glory

An Andy Murray fan who was left fighting for his life after being hit by a four-tonne van was at the front of the Wimbledon queue a day after being released from hospital.

Graeme Durno who suffered a fractured pelvis and bleed on the brain, said he was determined to make the Championships even if it killed him.

Distraught at the idea of not making it to SW19, the painter and decorator, who is still on morphine, was ready to discharge himself halfway through his month-long hospital stay.

Speaking from his wheelchair at the front of the queue, Mr Durno said: "I told them 'even if it kills me, I'm going to Wimbledon'.

"I was ready to discharge myself two weeks ago. That is when I started saying 'look, I am going'.

"I was looking forward to getting here at the beginning of the Championships, but there was no way."

The 54-year-old left hospital on Tuesday, and after getting £100 and a ticket from a friend caught the train from his home in Bournemouth to Wimbledon, before wheeling himself the final stretch to Wimbledon Park and the queue for a chance to watch the match from Henman Hill.

Still with his hospital ID wristbands on, he arrived without a tent but was given one by fellow Murray Maniacs.

Mr Durno said: "I was happy to sleep on a bench to see Andy win the final."

The Aberdeen native, who thinks he has been to Wimbledon around 30 times, added: "Since I was a boy I wanted to see somebody from this country win it.

"In 2013 I couldn't get here. I came here last year and the year before thinking, 'He (Murray) is in with a shout'.

"I spoke to Andy Murray's mother last year and just said, 'Tell Andy he has got to win it'."

The tennis fan said queuing for Wimbledon had become part of his life - but revealed roaring Murray on was not his only motivation for leaving his hospital bed and heading straight to SW19.

He confessed: "I told her I would be here if it kills me" - but refused to divulge any more about the mystery woman.

Sat outside his tent with his crutches to hand, Mr Durno explained he had warned on-site medical staff and security of his condition in case of an emergency.

Asked how he felt about being able to make it to the tennis, he continued: "It is something else. I can't believe it has happened. I could have nearly died a few weeks ago - it is something else."

Still in daily pain from the accident which occurred in Bournemouth on June 7 as he waited to get into a friend's car, he said a Murray win against Milos Raonic on Sunday would help to ease his suffering.

He concluded: "I can't wait to see it. But I thought it would happen last year and the year before, so I am saying nothing this year."