A HEART transplant patient from Bolton has won five gold medals at the European Heart and Lung Transplant Games in Vichy, France.
John Barnes, aged 59, achieved the record feat and now hopes to match it at the World Transplant Games in Australia next year.
The transplant games is a sporting event held solely for people who have had an organ transplant.
Mr Barnes won his medals in the super veterans age group, for athletes aged 50 to 60, in golf, tennis, ball throwing, long jump and high jump during the games in June.
The former Canon Slade pupil, who now lives in Wooton, Bedfordshire, had a heart transplant in November, 2000, after a mystery illness caused his heart to swell.
He was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and was told he needed a heart transplant.
Without it, the retired bank manager, believes he would not be here today.
He said: “Transplants save lives, there’s no doubt about it."
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