A TRANSPLANT survivor will represent Great Britain in the World Transplant Games next year – 12 years after he last competed.

Daymon Johnstone, who had a vital kidney transplant when he was five, will play squash for Team GB when the games come to Newcastle and Gateshead next August.

The Seaton man is making his belated return to the games after he last competed in Thailand in 2007, before injuries forced him to take time out.

He decided to get back into squash and fitness this year and received a surprise call-up for his country after claiming a silver medal at the British Transplant Games in Birmingham last month.

Daymon said: "I did the worlds in Thailand in 2008 but then I picked up injuries which knocked me back a bit.

"This year I decided I wanted to get back into it so I lost three-and-a-half stone and competed at the British games, really not expecting a call-up because I just wanted to see how I would do.

"It was nice to get and for it to be on home soil makes it even more special."

Daymon has competed in the British Transplant Games more than 20 times, playing squash, 10-pin bowling, badminton, 4x100m relay, darts and ball throw and collecting a haul of medals along the way.

He will attend training and team meetings in Coventry ahead of the games and must raise £1,500 to cover travel, training, accommodation and kit costs.