On Air Now

K Drive

3:00pm - 7:00pm

Now Playing

Snow Patrol

You're All I Have

Dying Man First Person To Receive Animal Heart In Transplant

Stock image: Jonathan Borba/Pexels

57 year-old living in the US

A dying man in the US has become the first in the world to receive a pig's heart in a transplant.

57-year-old David Bennett is said to be breathing by himself - three days after receiving the genetically-modified organ.

The operation, taking place at the University of Maryland Medical Centre, lasted 7 hours.

Mr. Bennett, who has terminal heart disease, had been previously deemed too ill to receive a human heart.

It's too soon to know if the transplant will work long-term, but his surgeon Professor Bartley Griffith says it's a lifeline:

Mr. Bennett had previously said he had two options, to die, or undergo the experimental procedure.

 

More from International News

Stay tuned to Kfm!

Get the Kfm Apps for you phone, tablet or smart speaker...

Kfm Kildare Weather

  • Thu

    Heavy Rain

    9°C

  • Fri

    Light rain shower

    11°C

  • Sat

    Sunny intervals

    11°C

  • Sun

    Sunny intervals

    12°C

  • Mon

    Sunny intervals

    11°C