A popular South Pembrokeshire sportsman has been given the greatest gift of all - life.

Adam Hughes, of Tenby, who celebrated his 27th birthday this week, was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure last year following a high blood pressure reading at his doctors' surgery.

For nearly two years he has been on 10 hours' dialysis a night while on the kidney transplant list, and was expected to have to wait at least three years before getting his new start.

But last week, Adam, a teaching assistant at Greenhill School, had a call to say a potentially-suitable kidney was available. Within hours, he underwent a successful transplant operation.

"It was a great shock to get the call," Adam told us this week. "Obviously I knew it could come, but with the average wait between three and five years, I was very lucky to get the call after 18 months. I'm extremely grateful for that and the chance to resume a relatively normal life."

Adam, who manages Carew Football Club's first team, continued: "The whole experience has been incredible from the support of all my family and friends to the amazing staff of the transplant unit in Cardiff and also Morriston Hospital. They are truly brilliant.

"It's almost like a dream to see the blood levels dropping back to a normal level. In the last two years, I've gone from a 25-year-old who is destined to 10 hours of dialysis daily for an undetermined amount of time with no real prospects, to a 27-year-old who now has a second chance at life. It really is the gift of life."

After being diagnosed, a number of Adam's friends and family formed Team Hughes and through the generosity of the local community, raised over £5,000 for Kidney Wales Foundation. Earlier this summer, Team Hughes won a top award for fundraising from the charity. They will be continuing their fundraising efforts, with Adam himself hoping to play a greater role in the future.

Now Adam is looking forward to getting back to doing the things he enjoys - playing sport, travelling and eating all his favourite foods that he has missed out on for two years, but most importantly he's keen to encourage more people to become organ donors.

"I implore anyone who hasn't already done so to sign up to be an organ donor. It's given me a second chance at life and there are around 150 more people like me in Wales waiting for kidney transplants alone, on what is an ever-growing list.

"One organ donor can save up to eight lives and give those people the same chance I have had. If my story can inspire just one person to join, then that's eight lives saved."

You can join the organ donation register at http://www.organdonation.nhs.uk">www.organdonation.nhs.uk

Roy Thomas, CEO of Kidney Wales Foundation, said: "Transplantation is such a wonder of medical science and we are so pleased for Adam and the Hughes family.

"What may not be known is their support for us at Kidney Wales and we were overjoyed to learn of his transplant and wish him every continued success in the future in all he does.

"We think of others who continue to wait desperately for a transplant and will not rest until numbers waiting come down dramatically.

"It is better not to suffer dialysis as it increases the efficiency and long-term prognosis, but let's get as many like Adam off the dreaded waiting list first."