The wife of kidney patient Dick Cooke has spoken of her gratitude to family friend Victoria Conrad who gave him one of her kidneys.

Mr Cooke, 53, of Charlwood Road, Corsham, was given the new kidney at Southmead Hospital, Bristol, on Tuesday.

He has spent the past four years on dialysis after suffering kidney cancer and had hoped for a transplant from his sister.

But, on the same day that he found out that his kidney, and that of his sister, were incompatible, he had a chance meeting with Mrs Conrad, 54.

Mrs Conrad is a mother-of-three of Broadmead, Corsham, who works as a nurse at Box Surgery.

Speaking before the operation, Mr Cooke said: “My good friend Victoria, whom I’ve known for 20 years, bumped in to me and asked when my transplant was.

“I said it was no longer happening and she responded immediately by saying, well that’s all right, have one of mine.

“I was taken aback, it’s an extraordinary gift to give anyone.

“It is a life changing gift, so much more than a Christmas present. It’s a gift for life.”

Over the next few days Mrs Conrad discussed the operation with her family and decided it was what she wanted to do.

She had one of her kidneys removed early on Tuesday morning and the transplant took place later that morning.

Mr Cooke’s wife Barbara, a teacher at Corsham Primary School, said that the surgery had gone well.

She is eternally grateful to Mrs Conrad and her family.

“The transplant will give Dick a new lease of life,” she said.

“It will enable him to live his life fully and we will be able to do a lot more as a family.

“In the past we have had to sort out dialysis before going anywhere or doing anything.

“It’s a gift of life and we just want to say thank you.”

She has been unable to see either patient because she has a cold but she said that their son Jimmy has been to see his father.

“He said his father is looking better than he ever has after previous surgeries,” she said. “Victoria is recovering well after the surgery too.”

Jimmy, 21, said: “I went in to see my dad yesterday after his surgery and he is looking a lot better than he was before.

“He was in a little bit of discomfort but is doing well.”

Mrs Conrad has been supported in her decision by her children Henry, 23, Jess, 21, Bethan, 18, and her husband Joel.