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Leeds heart-swap man's gold meal haul
Battling Andy Drysdale has picked up a haul of sporting medals – just three years after he underwent a life-saving heart swap.
Andy, 27, clinched a gold and three silvers at this month's European Heart and Lung Transplant Games, one of the world's biggest tournament for transplant patients.
He said: "I know I am lucky to be here so to take home four medals was amazing.
"Also, just to be surrounded by people who have all been through big changes in their lives yet putting in so much effort to win medals was just brilliant."
In 2007 Andy, from Swinnow, Leeds, faced a life or death battle as he waited for a replacement organ.
He had always been fit and healthy but was taken ill suddenly in late 2006.
Tests at Leeds General Infirmary showed he had cardiomyopathy, a condition which caused his heart to swell and weaken. The illness killed former Leeds United star Terry Yorath's 15-year-old son Daniel in 1992.
Andy was admitted to hospital almost immediately and put on the European waiting list for a new heart.
Incredibly, a suitable match was found after a record-breaking 55 hours – the usual waiting time is 100 days.
He has no idea where the organ came from but says he will always be grateful.
He said: "I think it is fantastic. I have a lot to thank them for.
"It is only because of them that I am so fit and well and able to be here, let alone winning medals."
More than 400 competitors from 22 countries took part in the biennial European Games in Sweden, specifically aimed at people who have undergone the most serious and complicated of transplants.
Andy, a quantity surveyor, represented Great Britain and won gold in high jump, and silvers in 100m, long jump and 4 x 100m relay.
Next month, he takes part in the British Transplant Games in Bath and if he does well, he could go through to the World Transplant Games in 2011.
Andy is also raising awareness for organ donation and has so far also raked in almost 6,000 for the Freeman Hospital Heart and Lung Transplant Association.
To support Andy, visit: www.justgiving.com/andydrysdale2010
To join the Organ Donor Register, call 0300 1232323 or visit: www.uk transplant.org.uk
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Friday 25 May 2012
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