1. ITV Report

The first person in the UK to volunteer to be a living liver donor for a stranger

Daniel in hospital, shortly after the surgery Photo: Daniel Broadhead

Daniel Broadhead has become the first person in the UK to volunteer to be a living liver donor for altruistic reasons.

Production worker Daniel, 21, wanted to help save someone's life, and started to explore the idea of liver donation last September.

Knowing that the liver regenerates, he contacted his local hospital, and underwent a series blood tests, heart scans and fitness tests.

Daniel underwent surgery at the end of last year, and is now recovering with a six inch scar, running from his chest to his stomach.

Daniel's scar runs from his chest to his stomach Credit: Daniel Broadhead

Giving up 17.5 per cent of his liver, Daniel is currently signed off work, and has to inject himself daily with blood thinner, to prevent clots.

He has been told it will be about nine months before he is back to full fitness.

According to ITV Daybreak's Dr Hilary, live liver donation is possible because the liver is much larger than the body needs, and can regenerate itself in weeks.

There are potential complications, such as infection, and people have died from the operation in the past.

Normally, live donors volunteer because they know the patient, most living organ donations in the UK are made by relatives who want to help a loved one.


Daniel said his mother was unhappy when she found out what he was intending to do, speaking only to his partner about what he was planning.

He said: "People say they don't understand why I did it, but I don't understand why people don't."