An 84-year-old pensioner has become Britain's oldest donor after giving a kidney to his son-in-law - and saving his life.
Graham Sisson, from Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, donated the organ to Ian Tonks, 49, of nearby Buxton, in October 2024.
Mr Tonks had suffered with kidney problems since 2006 but began 'declining rapidly' in 2018, which saw him embark on the gruelling process of dialysis treatment.
The ex-materials controller was put on the transplant list a year later - but several attempts to find a donor had been sadly unsuccessful.
He began to suffer infections and even sepsis caused by dialysis, an intensive procedure which removes waste from the blood if the kidneys are not working.
Doctors struggled for years to find viable ways for him to continue the treatment, which sees patients hooked up to a machine for hours several times a week.
On the brink of kidney failure, Mr Tonks was tragically given only a few months to live - when his father-in-law bravely agreed to step in.
Specialists have said he is the oldest person to give a kidney in a so-called 'direct donation' - and Mr Sisson has now spoken out about the incredible accolade.
The retired accountancy consultant, now 86, said: 'I'm thrilled to bits to see Ian's life change, but others seem to think it is a bigger thing than I do.
'I could see how incredibly ill he was and I wanted to help him get his life back. His whole life revolved around dialysis.'
A 'direct donation' is when a person donates an organ to someone they have a genetic or pre-existing emotional relationship with, according to The Human Tissue Authority.
Mr Sisson volunteered to help his critically ill son-in-law in summer 2023, offering up his left kidney.
The pair then underwent the transplant surgery with the living donor transplant team at Manchester Royal Infirmary on October 23, 2024.
He explained: 'Many family members put themselves forward but couldn't donate for various reasons, so I put myself forward and the tests showed I was compatible.
'To make sure it was safe for both of us, I then had 11 months of tests. By this point he was so ill that if the operation had been delayed, he may well have run out of time.
'I did get an award from NHS Blood and Transplant as a Kidney for Life Hero and have a badge which I wear with pride.
'Recovery was quick for me and I have carried on as normal. We've been to the cricket together and have gone to watch Derby County. I'm just glad it worked.'
Mr Tonks, who is originally from Birmingham, said: 'Without Graham, I would have died within a matter of months - without his unbelievable selflessness, I'd be gone.
'To be that age and do what he has done is incredible.'
Doctors first realised he was suffering from kidney problems in 2006 when he collapsed unexpectedly at home.
In fact, Mr Tonks has already previously received another kidney transplant in 2014 - but six years later, he began having problems which saw him go on dialysis.
He said: 'It puts a complete stop to your life.
'It requires a strict routine for spending time on the dialysis machine meaning I could no longer work and my hobbies stopped.
'I have a classic car I like to work on and go for weekend drives with my partner; I’m a big Birmingham City fan; I enjoyed my work—but all of that ended because of my condition.'
One of his friends had previously volunteered as a donor and underwent all the stages of testing it requires.
But it was discovered he had a previously unknown heart problem meaning he was sadly no longer able to help.
Mr Tonks’s wife and Mr Sisson’s stepdaughter Helen, 55, have also both previously tried to give their organs ahead of his first transplant in 2013.
But as she had previously been diagnosed with cancer it meant she unfortunately was not compatible for donation either.
'Lots of people said they would be open to donating but it's daunting and they would understandably back out,' Mr Tonks explained.
'Helen was the first person outside of Pete who properly meant it.
'Helen’s sister also tried to donate but our blood types didn’t match—that was when I got a call from Graham one Sunday night.'
Mr Tonks had assumed his father-in-law would be too old to donate—but organ donations can be made on the NHS by people of various ages, genders and races.
He said: ‘I was shell-shocked by Graham’s decision. Total disbelief—he was so confident about wanting to do it.
‘There is truly no gift in the world that matches what he did.
‘To this day, my voice cracks whenever I talk about it, knowing how brave he has been for no other reason than to help me.
‘It’s unbelievable—the kindest thing a person has ever done for me.’
After nearly a year of waiting following their initial conversation, the pair were both surprised to discover how calm they felt just before the procedure.
Mr Sisson said: ‘By the time we were on our way there, I wasn’t too bothered about it, to be honest.
‘Because of my age, I was more concerned about post-surgery, but having met the staff at the hospital I was completely confident about the procedure.’
He underwent surgery to remove his kidney in the morning before his son-in-law went under the knife in the afternoon to receive the organ.
They have both since fully recovered - and Mr Tonks has said his father-in-law's 'selfless act' has completely transformed his life: 'It's been unbelievable.
'Not being able to simply pass water because of dialysis, and having a fluid restriction of 500-750ml for several years, to all of a sudden drinking three litres a day was a massive shock.
'It still feels incredible just to go to the toilet normally and not be tied to a machine.
'I watched Oasis at Heaton Park and have been to the football again.
'Even the little things in life are massive now - like my bedroom being a bedroom and not having a dialysis machine dominating it.
'I can eat whatever I want and live a normal life. I said at my wedding speech before the transplant that Graham is an unsung hero.
'He always helps, whether it’s a lift or financial support. He never asks for anything but gives everything.
‘It’s a surprise he did this, but also not at all, because that’s just who he is.’