A MAN will be climbing one of the world's highest active volcanos in honour of a heart donor who gave him the 'gift of life'.

Michael Foster, who lives in Holsworthy, will begin his 5,897m climb up Mt Cotopaxi in Ecuador next Friday (June 26).

He said: "Since 1978, Cotopaxi has erupted more than 50 times. This mountain is not for the light-hearted, it is known that no more than about half of those attempting to summit Cotopaxi make it to the top."

The 70-year-old is undertaking the challenge in honour of a 14-year-old boy who died on May 3, 1993 and donated his heart.

Michael was on the heart transplant list for three years after having a heart attack while playing tennis in Bude during December 1990.

He was taken to Barnstaple Hospital, where he spent Christmas.

Michael said: "Eventually I was allowed home, but as time went on I had several little heart attacks and felt very poorly.

"I was sent to London Royal Free Hospital where I met Dr Lipkin, who did an aniogram. He said 'there's no point in putting new pipes in an old engine as it wouldn't work', so he referred me to Harefield Hospital where I was then put on the heart transplant list."

In the three years that followed, Michael's quality of life was 'very poor' and he made regular trips to the local hospital.

"I could only take a small amount of liquid food, and normal food tasted awful and I couldn't drink tea. I suffered from internal pains and was mainly bed-ridden, wondering if I would ever receive that lifesaving phone call."

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.