A FATHER'S love for his estranged son has spanned 6,000 miles and 21 years and made possible a life-saving operation.

Father-of-four Douglas Barclay from Burton had not seen his first-born son Nicholas since just before his third birthday.

But when he heard that Nicholas, now 24, had Goodpastures Syndrome, which had virtually shrivelled his kidneys away, he offered to donate one of his own.

Trouble was, Nicholas was in South Africa, living with his mother, Douglas's first wife Lucille.

Now, back in Burton, South African-born Douglas has already returned to his job with American Express Bank in Poole and is slowly shaking off the aches and pains of the successful operation which took place on August 17.

In Cape Town, Nicholas is making a fast recovery.

Douglas's second wife, Janet, said: "It's fantastic. Nicholas is leading a normal life now, playing tennis, running."

"He's now out of quaratine," said Douglas. "Last Friday Prof Swanepoele his kidney specialist gave him the green light.

"So now he's out with his mates catching up on lost time. He's going back to university to finish his degree in business studies."

It was pure chance that Douglas found out about Nicholas's illness.

A South African friend happened to see a newspaper article about Nicholas running a marathon despite his complaint.

Douglas telephoned Lucille to learn that Nicholas had been on dialysis blood cleansing treatment for two years. He had come close to death three times.

The offer of a kidney was made. "She phoned back the next day and, as she put it, he was a very angry young man and didn't want the donation at all."

But three weeks later Nicholas changed his mind and agreed to tests.

They were carried out by Prof Charles Swanepoele in Cape Town and Burton GP Dr Gus Hickish, who liaised by email.

The kidneys were a perfect match and the date was set.

Douglas, Janet and their 10-year-old son Andrew flew out on August 12, leaving their daughters Michele and Nicole in Burton, and met Nicholas and his stepfather Mike.

Despite the earlier tensions it was to prove a happy reunion.

The operations in Cape Town were carried out two days later.

The removal of Douglas's left kidney was the more complicated operation and took almost four hours and was followed by six days in hospital and another six weeks recuperation in South Africa.

His only long-term side effect is that he will have to keep a close watch on his blood pressure.

How does he feel emotionally?

"I feel a lot closer to him. Also a sense of achievement: I've given him a second chance of living his life to the full.

"Over the years as he does things I can say, 'That's great. He's achieved these things where he wouldn't have if I hadn't given him the kidney'."

Janet said: "We wouldn't have stood in his way. It was his choice and we supported him, but we were worried about the risk element.

"We are all proud of him - that he did it and he did it without a second thought, and he'd do it for any of his children."

Now Nicholas is hoping to come to England next summer to meet his new family.

First published: October 24