A FALCONER who was told by a leading doctor he wouldn't see New Year out after his veins "turned to bone" is celebrating the fifth anniversary of undergoing a remarkable life saving surgery.

Mike Kinder, who for decades thrilled thousands across the region with his birds of prey displays, said he raised a glass along with his grandchildren, daughters and wife to thank the consultant who carried out the operation.

Cardiothoracic consultant Andy Owens warned the 67-year-old he might be the last person he would see before undergoing the rotablation procedure - which is unsuitable for general anaesthetic.

It involved inserting a miniature diamond studded drill 12 inches up into his chest rotating at 92,000 revs per minute to chip away at the calcified lesions so a stent could be inserted into his coronary artery.

Mr Kinder, from Guisborough, said as he had already made his peace with the world and was so relaxed during the four hour operation that he fell asleep for and hour and 45 minutes but was overwhelmed with relief to learn it had been a success.

"Only my wife and daughters know about that operation, I have kept it quiet to this day", he said. "I live every minute of every day now and am planning to see Andy and give him a bottle.

Mr Kinder, who worked at Redcar steelworks for 44 years, was told he had just weeks to live back in November 2011 - 23 years after becoming one of the first Britons to undergo pioneering angioplasty - to widen narrowed or obstructed blood vessels - following an industrial accident in which he inhaled sulphur.

"I had a massive pain in my chest and investigations at James Cook Hospital revealed that the veins which had been blown up like balloons in the angioplasty surgery in 1988 had shrunk, become wrinkly and turned to a bone-like substance.

"I was told I wouldn't make the operating table and that I wouldn't be alive for New Year. They then told my wife Ann and daughters Michelle and Tracey what was happening.

"Cardiothoracic consultant Andy Owens told me to sort my life out, so I closed my carpet business I had run while the steelworks were closed and my friend took 40 of my birds, 45 snakes and 35 tarantulas."

Mr Kinder said his worst thoughts revolved around leaving his family behind.

"Once I realised what was happening I cooled off. Andy Owens then said as I had pioneered the angioplasty, would I have a go at rotablation, adding that it was unlikely I would get off the table and that he would be the last person I saw."

"I'm teetotal, but I raised a glass and had a toast to say thank you very much. I feel so alive - I can run, jump and skip. I am up and down dale with my eagles and my falcons."

Mr Kinder, who marked the run-up to New Year with a series of bird displays on Northallerton High Street, said he had also recently realised a long-term ambition by launching North Yorkshire Moors Birds of Prey with friend, Mark Allen, after trying several times to open a centre in Heartbeat village Goathland.