THE father of a TV quiz show champion has said he will never be able to repay staff at the John Radcliffe Hospital for giving him precious extra years with his son.

Dan Wilson, aged 39 from East Oxford, died on May 20 following a battle with chest cancer after being diagnosed in 2009.

His father Richard said it was the hospital's "life-changing" work that enabled him to live another six years, and allowed Dan to experience fatherhood with his twin girls Sophie and Anna, now five.

The 75-year-old said his son was given "world-class" treatment in the city's hospital from the moment he was admitted.

He said: "The incredible work by the doctors at the hospital meant we were given six years of precious time with him and he was able to know his two little girls.

"I have no doubt that the extra years we got to spend with him was all down to them and their fantastic work."

Richard said the family, including his wife Kate and sons Toby and Oliver, were now planning to raise more money for the hospital in the near future in the hope of going some way to thank them for their work.

He said: "My son had a radiance about him and everyone that knew him would say it.

"He was also a brilliant father and every three weeks, even throughout treatment, he would go to Brussels to visit his girls where they live because that's how much he loved them and that's that kind of man he was.

"I want to thank the hospital for giving me more time with someone I loved with all of my heart."

Dan had to undergo countless operations, chemotherapy and radiation treatments at the JR, including having his right lung removed.

When the Italian, French and Spanish interpreter and his 37-year-old brother Toby won the BBC1 show Pointless in 2012, Dan decided to give half his £3,250 prize to the cardiothoracic department of the hospital to say thank you.

Richard said: "The whole family loved Pointless and after Dan was diagnosed we all used to sit around and watch it and I said to him: 'Dan, you are the the cleverest man I know, I really think you can win this.'

"The money they won went towards improving the waiting room for the department where we spent much of our time

"The hope was to make it as comfortable as it is possible to be in the worst moments of someone's life and to give something back to the laboratories of researchers, doctors, nurses and volunteers that save and extend lives on a daily basis."

Staff at the John Radcliffe Hospital said the money raised went a long way in improving the existing facilities at the hospital, with a senior nurse who worked closely with Dan adding that he was "inspirational".

Pavana Pillai said: "I remember Dan very well, more to the point his cheerful face and smile.

"His positive outlook on life really touched all of us who looked after him and we were so very grateful and inspired by his fundraising efforts."

When it became clear to the staff that Dan would not defeat the cancer, he moved into Sobell House, where he spent the final two months of his life.

Richard said: "The hospital showed such compassion and humanity for my son – as they do with all of their patients – so when they knew his time was up they seamlessly moved him over to Sobell House.

"They reduced his pain, they treated his infections and they took care of him in his final hours and, although we knew he was dying, they made his last few months the best they could possibly be and I will forever be in their debt for what they did for him and for my family."

The family are inviting anyone who knew or loved Dan to attend his funeral on June 4 in University Church of St Mary the Virgin in High Street from 4pm.