Mechanic is world's longest surviving liver transplant patient

THE world's longest surviving liver transplant patient is getting set to celebrate his 70th birthday - nearly 40 years after being told he had only months to live.

Picture of Gordon Bridewell on a benchSWNS GROUP

Gordon Bridewell is now the world's longest surviving liver transplant patient

ordon Bridewell, of Devizes, Wiltshire, was told he had a tumour on his liver in 1975 after a lump appeared on his leg while he was playing football.

He had an operation to remove it but started to suffer from blackouts and hallucinations because his liver had not filtered out the anaesthetic.

Mr Bridewell, who was 30 at the time, visited King's College Hospital, London, where he underwent 25 tests before discovering what was wrong.

Although he had an operation to get rid of the initial tumour, it was then discovered he had a second, inoperable one - and specialists recommended he had an operation to get rid of it.

The step-grandfather said: "I was shocked. I still hadn't recovered from the news about the second tumour.

"I knew kidney transplants were being done but I'd not heard about liver transplants, except as a last resort, and mostly for elderly people."

The transplant process was agonising and enquiries had to be extended to the rest of Europe to find a suitable organ match.

"It was a waiting game - I had four false alarms, arriving in London to find that the organs weren't compatible."

Picture of Gordon BridewellSWNS GROUP

Gordon Bridewell

If it hadn't been for a donor, I wouldn't be here today

Gordon Bridewell

Mr Bridewell, who still works for his family's local motor repair business, woke up from the life-changing surgery immobile, attached to numerous tubes, with 30 external stitches and a host of internal ones.

However, his first meal after the operation was somewhat ironic.

He explained: "I was really looking forward to my first meal after the operation.

"They wheeled it in and the nurse lifted the lid and gasped 'I can't give you this!' It was liver and onions!"

The life-saving transplant operation was led by Roy Calne - now Professor Sir Roy Calne - who performed the first liver transplant in Europe in 1968.

Professor Calne, who has become a close friend over the years , has told him: "You are an icon".

Mr Bridewell, who worked as a police mechanic at the time,  said: "I didn't know what he was talking about until he explained I was the longest surviving liver transplant patient in the world.

"In those days, people didn't talk about liver transplants because people didn't survive.

"My case was written about in [medical journal] The Lancet, but not in the ordinary press."

"If it hadn't been for a donor, I wouldn't be here today, but I don't like to brow beat people about it." 

NHS Choices: Liver Disease

Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?