Philip Robinson had a kidney transplant 12 months ago. He believes himself to be one of the lucky ones, after only spending a year on the organ donor register.

Mr Robinson, 37, of Greenodd, is husband to Tracy and father to Zoe, 17, and Zak, 13.

He is now back in work full-time at Holker Hall Caravan Park at Cark, and enjoying his hobbies windsurfing and sailing.

He said: “For me, it took just over 18 months, from being diagnosed with kidney failure to getting a transplant.

"I feel incredibly lucky to have had it happen so quickly, because I’ve seen friends go through dialysis for years before they get a new kidney, and it’s just no way to live.

“I started to notice my symptoms when I was 35. I would have a drink of wine at teatime and it was making me a bit ill. Even when I had one lager I was throwing up the next day.

“I went for an appointment with the doctor at Barrow hospital and they said that I was going to need a new kidney.

"To know that I needed a transplant made me really start to worry.

"My wife was adamant that I would have her kidney, and although she was a perfect match I wasn’t having any of it.

"I didn’t want to put her through the hassle and pain of being a live donor, plus we couldn’t both be off work at the same time.

“My health started to get worse but one day I got the call from Manchester Royal Infirmary I was out sailing at Low Island, whizzing along at 30mph.

"I went back to my van and had a voice message to say a kidney was available and I would need to be at the hospital in a couple of hours.

"I couldn’t believe a kidney had come up so fast. It was all such a rush, getting down to the hospital and trying to get in the right frame of mind.

“When I was lying in the hospital bed I was really scared.

"I was saying I didn’t want the operation, and I remember the man in the bed next to me, who had been on dialysis for six years, said: ‘Don’t be so soft lad and get it done’ and that lifted my spirits up!

“I woke up nine hours later with a new kidney and left hospital six days later.

"I don’t feel as tired anymore and I definitely have a different outlook on life.

“Like most people, I hadn’t considered going on the organ donor register until I needed a transplant.

“You’re talking about death when you discuss it and so I suppose I had always avoided thinking about it, but I would definitely encourage people to sign up because it makes such a difference.

“One person can potentially help five others waiting for transplants.

"My daughter is now signed up to the register and it’s something she wouldn’t have thought about before.

“My story shows if an organ is available then it needn’t be a life-or-death situation as it can be for so many.

"With more people on the register there can be more positive stories like mine."

To sign up to the register online go to https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/ukt/RegistrationForm.do