A Surbiton man is flying to Haiti on an emergency mission to set up a field hospital for 300 victims of the cholera epidemic.

Carwyn Hill set up the Haiti Hospital Appeal (HHA) in 2006 after seeing an 11 year old die of an illness anti-biotics could have cured.

He and his wife Reninca, a primary school teacher in Tolworth, had been living in second city Cap Haitien for a year when the January 12 earthquake struck.

Following the disaster they set up the country’s first spinal unit, but since returning to England they watched news of cholera spreading from the south of the country.

Mr Hill said: “Last Wednesday morning [November 10] I got a text from our head nurse in Haiti and heard we had taken our first cholera patient. The north is now struggling quite badly.

“There’s a lot of fear, even with doctors and nurses on the ground.

“There’s a lot of stigma. It has been so bad, even if they are paid a good wage they don’t want to go near.

“None of the funeral homes will accept bodies. One of my jobs today was to go to local funeral homes to get body bags.”

He will fly to the Caribbean today, Tuesday, and plans to set up the cholera treatment centre on the hospital’s land, increase water filtration and promote education about cholera prevention.

The city’s gym is overflowing with 850 cholera victims, 70 of when have died.

The charity has launched a cholera appeal, appealing for doctors and nurses who are available in the next few months, and donations from the public.

The disease can cause death within 48 hours, but is easily treated with rehydration and anti-biotics if caught early enough.

Phil Johnston, treasurer of the HHA, said: “It’s urgent we get on the ground and get plans in action as soon as possible. If we have the possibility of helping them we need to do that as soon as possible.”

Make a donations at haitihospitalappeal.com/donate or send a cheque payable to Haiti Hospital Appeal to Sylvan Way, West Wickham, BR4 9HA.