The first child in Britain to receive a pioneering heart operation has died almost 40 years later, aged 51.

Father-of-seven David Northeast, from Cliffe Woods, was born so sick, his parents abandoned him at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Yet he survived - and later returned to the hospital to become a volunteer nurse for 20 years.

Mr Northeast also volunteered at Medway Maritime Hospital for 25 years and made his name as a stunt biker in Hoo and Cliffe.

Mr Northeast, of Lillechurch R oad, will be buried in his bike leathers at a service on Wednesday.

He was born with a missing ventricle in his heart and became famous aged 13, as the first child in Britain to be given the 'Fontan' operation. Doctors said he would only live to 36, but he survived another 15 years.

He used the time to track down his eight brothers and sisters.

Two years ago he began a course in environmental sciences at the University of Greenwich, Chatham.

Mr Northeast, who dreamed of being a global warming expert, kept studying despite poor health and a car crash last July.

He checked in at the Wisdom Hospice, Rochester, five days before he died of organ failure on August 27.

His youngest daughter Daisy, 16, is starting a mechanic's course this week and aims to fix one of his prized Japanese racing cars.

She said: "We did everything together. I used to help him at university, writing and typing, as he had trouble with his hands."

His widow Sally, 52, said: "He lived life in the fast lane. He kept pushing to survive and lived longer than anyone else who had the operation."

Mr Northeast also leaves his other grown-up children Tao, Karl, Hayley, Alex, Michaela and Danny. His funeral will be held on Wednesday, at 2pm. Donations to the Wisdom Hospice.

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