Intrepid explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes was praised as an ambassador for heart surgery as he was reunited with the Bristol operating team who saved his life.

Sir Ranulph, 59, suffered a heart attack on board an easyJet plane which was due to take off from Bristol in June.

Having completed seven marathons across seven continents since undergoing an emergency double heart bypass operation seven months ago, the explorer returned to Bristol Royal Infirmary to open a new heart unit.

Unveiling a plaque marking the opening of the £10 million cardiac intensive care unit and operating theatre, Sir Ranulph thanked hospital staff who cared for him.

He said: 'I want to say a very big thank you to the bloke with the knife for his skill. Thank you to all the nurses in intensive care who kept me sedated for three days and nights. Thank you for working to get another person's heart in trim.'

Sir Ranulph, who lives on Exmoor, Devon, said the new 17-bed unit and operating theatre were 'wonderful', but added that his treatment in the old unit had been 'excellent'.

'I was very lucky indeed to end up here,' he said. 'The last unit was great but this is greater still.''

Professor Gianni Angelini, who headed the team that operated on Sir Ranulph, described him as an 'ambassador' for heart surgery.

Just four months after his operation Sir Ranulph completed seven marathons across seven continents in as many days.

Prof Angelini said: 'I am amazed by his recovery. Sir Ranulph is a very strong individual. He is an inspiration to both patients and doctors - he is a leading example of what people can do after undergoing heart surgery.'

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