A PATIENT has thanked his surgeon for helping to prolong his life - for the second time.

Cross Hills grandfather Michael Hudson has expressed his "heartfelt thanks" to Dr Raj Kapadia after he used a new technique to operate on Mr Hudson's large hernia.

Mr Hudson, 69, a former member of Leeds City Athletic Club and a Leeds Tykes player, had originally been told the hernia could not be operated on.

This was due to extensive scar tissue as a result of an operation to remove his bowel after suffering from cancer.

He was advised the hernia would cause him problems in the future.

But Airedale Hospital consultant Dr Kapadia visited Germany before Christmas to learn a new technique using mesh made from pure polyester to repair hernias.

He used the new technique to operate on Mr Hudson a couple of weeks ago - the second of its kind to be carried out at the hospital.

Mr Hudson told the Herald: "I went into hospital for the operation, with great success.

"As usual, my heartfelt thanks go to Dr Kapadia, all the nurses on ward 13, the cleaning staff and catering staff, in fact anyone at all who works at or is associated with the wonderful place that is Airedale Hospital."

In response, modest Dr Kapadia, who has worked at Airedale since 1987 and also lives in Cross Hills, said he was "just doing my job", and jokingly said he hoped he was not going to see Mr Hudson on his operating table again.

He said the new technique had been around in other parts of Europe for a couple of years and had proved successful

"It's a different method of treating hernias, in the past infection rates have been very high, 60 to 70 per cent," he explained.

"The risk of infection is very low and recovery is much quicker. I've now done seven of these operations and they've all been very good."

Mr Hudson first thanked Dr Kapadia in 1998 after he was diagnosed with bowel cancer and was rushed into hospital for an operation.

Dr Kapadia removed his infected bowel and Mr Hudson was told it was a complete success.

Now, Mr Hudson is taking each day as it comes and has started taking gentle exercise.

He added: "I became an old man overnight when I was diagnosed with cancer. Now, I just keep going."