A fundraising page to fly a cancer stricken Rutherglen man stuck on an island in the Indian Ocean home has been inundated with support.

Tragedy struck when Jon Paul McAllister, 38, and his partner Craig Park were on holiday in Madagascar to celebrate the end of Jon Paul's chemotherapy treatment and their January engagement.

After being told treatment was working and being given the go-ahead to fly, the couple travelled to South Africa and on to Madagascar where Jon Paul's health rapidly deteriorated leaving him too ill to fly home on a commercial flight.

As previously reported by the Evening Times, friends of the much-loved Glasgow social worker launched an appeal to raise £35,000 to cover medical bills and fly the couple home in an air ambulance.

In less than a week, more than half of the target has been donated by generous well-wishers.

As well as money donations, some have offered their services including an interpretor living on the Island of Reunion where Jon Paul is stuck.

Mr Park said translation problems mean they are struggling to understand exactly what is wrong with his fiancée, with medics indicating scans suggest it could be another tumour.

He added that before leaving home in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, social worker Mr McAllister had not received his final scan results.

He said: "His half way scan showed chemo was working and the 'deposits' left behind after his tumour was removed were shrinking.

"We asked so many times if this holiday was ok and we were told just to go ahead with it, there was no reason we shouldn't go on holiday."

Friend Karen Bell described Jon Paul "an amazing guy, who has always been, and continues to be, an inspiration to so many people" on the fundraiser.

She added: "Jon Paul’s huge heart has led him to live a life helping others. He has impacted on so many people’s lives, both personally, and professionally through his 10 years working with children and families.

“We’re desperate to get Jon Paul home to receive the best treatment possible. He’s one of lives giving people.”