AN athlete who can only breathe, thanks to the gift of a stranger has retained his title as a double European champion in table tennis.

Mark Allen, of Deirdre Avenue, Widnes, received a double lung transplant in 2005, but due to rejection his lung capacity has been reduced to 23 per cent.

Yet the 44-year-old has beaten the odds to win his sixth gold medal, winning singles and doubles at the 2016 European Heart and Lung Transplant Championships in Vantaa, Finland.

“The medals were a bonus,” said Mark, a Halton Council communications officer.

“It was great seeing people from different countries all with something in common and raise awareness about the benefits of transplantation.”

Mark received a £100 sports development grant from the council towards the event which cost more than £800 in hotels, fees, registration and travel.

Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was nine months old, he fell ill with pneumonia while teaching English in Korea in 2005.

Seriously ill in hospital, doctors caused damage to his trachea by leaving him ventilated too long.

Mark’s lungs deteriorated rapidly so a double lung transplant was his only hope of survival.

“I don’t let this hold me back,” he added.

“Sport has always been an important part of my lifestyle and I keep as active as my lungs will allow.

“Winning medals at the European Games shows that you don’t have to let your health problems get in the way of living life to the full.

“I’m a walking demonstration of just how important and amazing organ donation is.”

Mark will join more than 900 transplant survivors in the British Transplant Games which start in Liverpool next Thursday.

He is appealing for sponsorship as he spends more than £1,500 a year competing in several tournaments.

“I love transplant competitions as they bring people together,” he added.

“The main aim of the games is to raise awareness of how being on the donor register can make the world of difference.”