Former One Direction bodyguard thanks Louis Tomlinson for donating £4,000

Louis Tomlinson has donated £4,000 to help fund life-saving surgery for a former One Direction bodyguard.

Preston Mahon requires a bypass or amputation due to blocked arteries in both of his legs, and he is hoping to raise £35,000 to pay to go under the knife after "exhausting" his savings on an initial private operation in Spain.

Louis, 33, has pledged the four-figure sum to help the boy band's former minder, and Preston - who also looked after Simon Cowell, Boyzone, Westlife, Leona Lewis and The Enemy throughout his career - "can't thank" the 1D star "enough" for his generosity.

He told The Sun: "I’m so appreciative. It means the world to me.

"I can’t thank him enough. Wow. I wasn’t expecting that.

"I sent Louis a text personally saying thank you. All the boys from One Direction mean the world to me.

"I met up with all the lads again at Liam’s funeral exactly a year ago.

"It was the saddest time ever but a lovely reunion."

Preston's friend Tracy Trigg set up a GoFundMe page to save her pal's legs.

Following Louis' hefty donation, more than £6,600 was raised for Preston's op, but in the early hours of Friday morning (21.11.25) another £4,000 has been pledged by an anonymous donor.

This has taken the total past £10,800.

Preston admitted he "desperately" needs a second operation to "to have a chance of living out my years without pain".

He explained: "My dad organised for me to see an expert in Madrid who did his knees.

"He phoned my father after the op and told him, ‘We just did life-saving surgery on your son.'

"After the operation, it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders but now I desperately need this second operation to have a chance of living out my years without pain."

Preston insisted he is only asking for donations because has "nothing left" in the bank.

He said: "I’ve never asked for money but I’ve got nothing left.

"My family finances have been exhausted."