A pensioner is recovering in hospital after flying thousands of miles for a life-saving heart operation.

David Martin went to South Africa for treatment after being told he would have to wait more than a year if he stayed with the NHS in England.

Mr Martin, from Crawley, had a triple heart bypass at the private Panorama Medi-Clinic in Cape Town and is recovering well.

He had considered being treated privately in the UK but was told it would cost him £22,000, which he could not afford.

The South Africa trip, including surgery, ward fees and drugs cost him £8,000.

Mr Martin, 76, a retired Merchant Navy captain, spoke to The Argus from his hospital bed in the clinic.

He said: "I'm feeling absolutely splendid. I'm in good shape and in good spirits and looking forward to coming home.

"I was astounded when I was told how long I would have to wait for treatment on the NHS when it was clear I had a serious condition.

"Then when I heard about the private costs I became really fed up. How many people can get hold of money like that?

"I was really worried about my health and so that was when I decided to go abroad."

Mr Martin got in contact with a friend in South Africa who recommended the clinic.

He was particularly impressed with the speed he was dealt with.

Mr Martin said: "I picked up the phone and spoke to the surgeon and I asked when he could see me.

"He replied that it could be as quickly as possible and asked when was it convenient for me.

"I don't think I would have lived if I had stayed on the NHS waiting list. When I got here I discovered that my life was hanging by a thread.

"I do feel a bit bitter. After all, I spent 48 years paying into the NHS but when I really needed its help I couldn't have it."

Mr Martin's family has flown out to join him in South Africa as he recovers from his operation.

He is hoping to return Sussex in the next two weeks.

The clinic says it is inundated with queries from ill Britons who cannot afford private care.

It recently treated a nurse from Worthing who had waited 13 weeks for a smear test. When it came back positive she was told she would have to wait another month to see a specialist.

Instead of waiting she got a £1,500 loan and flew to Cape Town, where she was operated on by a cancer specialist in one day.

There have been growing calls in the UK for the NHS to use South African hospitals but at the moment only European countries are being considered.

West Sussex is one of three areas taking part in a pilot scheme which sends patients to Europe to cut waiting lists.