A 20-YEAR-old who has undergone major surgery for a new heart is hoping to get out of intensive care soon.

Will Pope from Owlswick near Princes Risborough desperately needed a new heart and had been placed on the urgent transplant list.

Then on New Year's Day at 4.13am the family heard the news they needed- a heart had been found- 121 days after he had been admitted to Harefield Hospital.

He underwent the complicated surgery and is now recovering in hospital.

His mum, Rosie Pope, said he is hoping to get out of intensive care soon and although he is painfully thin he is getting a little stronger each day.

She said: "We will always be indebted to the donor and their family for allowing Will to live through the tragedy of their own loss.

"I fervently hope that this gift will allow us to work towards maximising the chance of your readers their families and friends having transplants if and when they need them which really can happen if we all register and tell our families."

More than 10,000 people in the UK currently need a transplant. Of these 1,000 each year – that's three a day - will die waiting.

To register to go on the donor list go click here or call 0300 123 2323.

To follow Will's progress click here