A GWENT man once given just weeks to live unless he had a heart transplant is celebrating the tenth anniversary of his life-saving operation.

Martin Brett, aged 56, from Ebenezer Drive, Rogerstone, marked the occasion with his wife Josephine, 57, and his family after they planned a surprise party in his honour.

An emotional Mr Brett said: "I've had the best ten years of my life and it's just marvellous to be alive.

"To have been able to see my grandchildren and great-grandchildren and being able to cuddle them, it's a such lovely feeling."

For years he had suffered from heart disease and had already undergone several heart operations when doctors told him he was on borrowed time unless he had a transplant. There a history of heart disease in the family.

"Both my parents died when they were fairly young. If this knowledge had been around then, they would have lived a lot longer.

"My daughter Karen, who's 36, has heart problems and she's lost her sight because of severe problems with diabetes."

The date for the operaation was set for June 18, 1993, at St George's Hospital, Tooting, London.

Mr Brett said: "I had a lady's heart from Ireland.

"They had six hours to fly over there and get it for the operation. "I only know that she was from Limerick and I have travelled over there to say thank you very much to the place because she saved my life.

"The surgeons have also given me ten years of life I would never have had. They were absolutely incredible and I can't speak highly enough of them."

Mr Brett said he has adopted a 'maana' attitude to life and takes things a little slower now.

"If something needs to be done, it can be done tomorrow or the day after. It still gets done but I don't worry about it.

"I do have to watch my diet but I've always been a bit sensible about it anyway. I also have to watch what I drink, but I had far too much at the party on Saturday!

"There is no time limit to how long you've got left.

"Two good friends of mine had transplants but both died after a couple of years which is one of the perils. But I know of someone who is still alive 20 years later."

Pictured: Martin and Josephine Brett