Standing ovation for heroic David

HONOURED . . . Dr Nott with Sir Tom Jones and ITV news anchor Mark Austin - Picture courtesy Daily Mirror

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FORMER Oldham Hulme Grammar School pupil and consultant surgeon Dr David Nott reduced TV presenter Carol Vorderman to tears as she thanked him for saving her life.

Welsh-born Mr Nott was receiving the Special Recognition award at this week's Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards from singing legend Sir Tom Jones when host Carol burst into tears and threw her arms around him.

For more than two decades, the consultant surgeon, who works at Royal Marsden, St Mary's and Chelsea and Westminster hospitals in London, has given up several months every year to volunteer in war zones including Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria and amid major humanitarian crises.

But it was during his UK-based work that he saved Carol Vorderman's life when she developed the life-threatening condition sepsis 12 years ago.

She said: "I was rushed into hospital and found myself looking into the eyes of this man."

Dr Nott received the largest and longest standing ovation at Monday night's award ceremony after guests heard how he has carried out lifesaving operations on victims of conflict for the past 23 years.

In June 2016, he shared on the BBC Radio 4 show "Desert Island Discs" how, while operating on a man in Syria, six armed militants from so-called Islamic State burst into the room.

During their 20 minutes stay, he was too scared to speak for fear the fully-armed militants would recognise he was British.

He also revealed how during lunch with the Queen, she let him feed her Corgi's dog biscuits after realising he was too traumatised to speak about his experiences.

Sir Tom Jones, who presented Dr Nott with his award, described him as 'just incredible' and said: "I was bowled over. I couldn't think of anyone else in the world I would rather give this award to."

ITN news anchor and seasoned war correspondent Mark Austin also praised Mr Nott.

He said: "He is a hero, a true example to us all, going into completely hostile environments when others are coming out.

"He is a credit to his profession and we should all be immensely proud of him."

Born in Carmarthen, South Wales, Mr Nott moved to Rochdale with his family at the age of ten when his father became a consultant orthopaedic surgeon.

He previously admitted that failing his A-Levels at Oldham Hulme Grammar made him determined to succeed and to help others less fortunate than himself.

Mr Nott was awarded an OBE in June 2012 and earlier this year was named winner of the Robert Burns Humanitarian Award 2016.

He has set up the David Nott Foundation, which offers other surgeons and other medical professionals training and advice on how to help in conflict and natural disaster zones around the world.

To find out more visit www.davidnottfoundation.com.