A TEENAGER has been reunited with the ambulance crew who went the extra mile - and then some- to ensure he had life-saving surgery.

Conor Rowlands, from Huby near Easingwold, was suffering with cryptogenic liver disease and went on the transplant list when he was 15-years-old.

In the early hours of the morning of March last year, the family received a call that a liver donation from an 11-year-old girl was waiting for him in London.

Thirsk ambulance crew-members Dave Gardner and Hannah Duffield were already nine-and-a-half hours into their night shift when they got a call at 3.30am to take Conor to King’s College Hospital.

The journey took them just over four hours and was a round-trip of more than 400-miles.

Conor was recently reunited with the pair on Wednesday just before his 18th birthday and the first anniversary of his transplant.

He was accompanied by his mum, Elaine Hildrick, and they thanked their heroes with cards and gifts.

Conor told the pair: “I couldn’t really be happier. I mean, what more can you ask for than life?

“Thanks very much for going above and beyond the call of duty and taking me to London.

“You don’t do it for a reward or sympathy, you do it because you enjoy helping people.

“I can’t thank you enough.”

Looking back at the events of the last year, Ms Hildrick said: “When we got the call about Conor’s transplant, I felt sick, but knew he needed it and he took it in his stride.

“He now feels better and has loads of energy.

“It’s just lovely to have a happy teenager.

“We’re so thankful to the donor family that he can live again.”

The reunion was a very proud moment for the crew because paramedics rarely find out what happens to their patients after they take them to hospital.

Mr Gardner said: “It’s definitely the longest shift I have ever worked!

“But Conor got his liver transplant and that’s all that matters.

“It was great to see him again and looking so well.”

Within four weeks of leaving hospital, Conor was back on the road learning to drive and soon passed both his driving and motorbike tests.

After eight weeks, he returned to his apprenticeship at City of York Council, and is now planning to become a mechanic.