A SCHOOLBOY welcomed some surprise visitors while recovering from an operation in a Newcastle hospital.

James Green, 15, was paid a visit by stars from the Newcastle Eagles basketball team as they spread some festive cheer at the Children’s Heart Unit at the Freeman Hospital this week.

The Hurworth School pupil, of Middleton St George, is recovering from a Nuss procedure, which involves inserting a bar across his chest to correct a condition which combats sunken breastbones.

The condition affects around one in 1,000 children.

James’s mum, Nicola Green, said the visit from the Eagles brightened his day.

She said: “James is recovering well and being so well looked after here at the Freeman.

“All the staff have just been amazing, and James’s mood was really lifted to meet all the players from the Eagles.

“That was a really nice thing for them to do.”

The Eagles players, who face the Glasgow Rocks in the BBL final in mid-January, visited the hospital as part of the ongoing partnership between the club and the Children’s Heart Unit Fund (CHUF).

Mascots for each of the Eagles’ home games are made up of CHUF’s ‘Heart heroes’, former patients who have had heart treatment and operations at the Freeman Hospital.

Chris Gray, head of fundraising at CHUF said: “It gave everyone - patients, parents and staff - such a tremendous lift.

“The guys have a very busy and important schedule of games coming up, so we’re immensely grateful."

Eagles players spent more than two hours chatting with parents and patients about their treatment and care.