Emotional moment world-leading surgeon Asif Hasan is reunited with 19 young lives he saved at Pride of Britain

Daily Mirror · Jeremy Armstrong · 2026-10-20 05:24 UTC

Pioneering heart surgeon Asif Hasan spent 35 years saving Britain’s sickest children. At the Pride of Britain awards, the humble NHS hero who inspired organ donor law reform was surprised on stage by 19 young lives he saved

He has saved so many lives that his patients call him 'God'.

World-leading cardiac surgeon Asif Hasan was surrounded by the children who received the gift of life thanks to his unerring skills at the emotional climax of another memorable Pride of Britain ceremony.

Now 70 years old, Mr Hasan has just retired after 35 years of service at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne. He received his Lifetime Achievement Award before an extra special surprise: a cast of patients who would not be alive without him.

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