A Romanian man who had life-saving heart surgery in Leicester as a five-year-old boy in 1993 has thanked the city.
Alexandru Neculai, who was brought to Leicester by county-based charity Orphan Aid to have the operation at the then Groby Road Hospital, said he owed his life to the people of Leicester.
Alexandru, now 26, spoke out after a member of the charity team that helped bring him over to the UK got back in touch with him.
Clive Langley, of Newton Harcourt, who was with Orphan Aid, said he spoke to Alexandru a month ago.
Alexandru told Clive: "I owe my life to the people of Leicester.
"I don't remember much about the whole thing but do recall coming to the city.
"I do remember the operation and being quite scared.
"I remember going home and then recovering and my family being very happy."
Alexandru told Mr Langley that he has now got two degrees and is living with his parents in the eastern Romanian city of Bacau.
Mr Langley said the charity brought Alexandru over for the operation after his mother, Maria, wrote to Orphan Aid saying her son had a hole in his heart and could not have life-saving surgery in Romania.
Surgeons waived their fee and the £15,000 cost of the surgery was paid for by the Groby Road children's ward support group, Heartlink.
Mr Langley said: "It was about a month ago and I got a call out of the blue from my old pal, Christi Isaila, who is from Romania and acted as a translator when we dealt with Alexandru's parents.
"At the charity, we received a letter in Romanian and Christi translated.
"When he did, it was this heart-rending appeal from a mother pleading for help to save the life of her son."
Mr Langley said when Mr Isaila got in touch with him about a month ago, he asked if he knew what had become of Alexandru.
"He just called and I asked him if he knew whatever became of Alexandru," said Mr Langley.
"He said he had only spoken to him two days before.
"Before I knew it, Christi called Alexandru and we chatted on the phone.
"It was magical. It was great to hear his voice and to hear that he was doing fine."
After the operation, Alexandru's father, Costel, wrote a letter of thanks to the charity.
He said: "I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you have done to save my son's life.
"Your helping hand meant a response for our prayers because otherwise there were no chances for Alexandru to live.
"Words cannot describe the feelings I have for you but believe me I'll always think of you and your warm support."
Mr Langley said he intended to stay in touch with Alexandru in the future.
He said: "It was a story that touched everyone and it is lovely to know the people of Leicester helped out and that help was appreciated."
