HEART transplant patient Jason Whittaker has spoken of his determination to make the most of his second chance in life.

He is already looking forward to scuba diving in the Maldives, family holidays in Ireland and taking his son, Luke, to Australia.

Four weeks after his operation, 33-year-old Jason is recovering at his Stoneybank home in Stoneclough with his wife, Amanda, and 20-month-old Luke and looking forward to the future.

He said: "There were a few emotional times when I thought about what could have happened. I nearly died. You don't realise the seriousness of it until you can look back.

"My aim now is to get our lives back to normal as much as possible, but my priorities have changed -- family definitely comes first."

Jason is a diving instructor at Bolton's BSAC Diving Club and is eager to reach full fitness and get back in the water.

"I'll have to take a scuba diving medical, so I plan to get myself fit, then I'll take the top test so no one can query it at a later date," he said.

He and his family have travelled all over the world on scuba diving holidays -- Australia, Mexico and the Maldives, where they were due to return next month.

"I'm gutted we had to cancel, but it is just one of those things. I definitely want to go back there, so that's my goal," he said.

"We also want to take Luke to see relatives in Australia. And we have an annual family fishing holiday to Ireland booked for the summer, which I am determined to make."

A donor heart saved Jason's life and now he and Amanda, aged 32, want to encourage more people to become donors.

Jason said: "Someone else has saved my life and I want to do anything I can to help others. Apparently, if seven per cent of the country were donors, no one would ever be waiting for transplants.

"I know a bit about my donor, but that is personal, between me and the donor's family.

"I am deeply grateful to them for giving me a second chance, but I don't think I will want to get in touch as I know that they will have suffered a great loss to be able to help me."

The couple are holding a fundraising event at the Manor Golf Club on Friday in aid of Wythenshawe Hospital's Jim Quick Ward Appeal.

Amanda said: "By fundraising, I feel like we are giving something back.

"A heart transplant and the treatment that follows costs thousands of pounds and everyone at the hospital has been fantastic, so this is the least we can do."

"You never imagine it will happen to you -- Jason only had a cold and now he's recovering from a heart transplant.

"We weren't donors before, but we are now and want to encourage more people to carry a donor card as it could save lives."

Tickets for Friday's event have sold out, but anyone who would like to donate to the appeal can send cheques (payable to New Heart New Start) to the Jim Quick Ward Appeal, Wythenshawe Hospital Transplant Centre, South Moor Road, Wythenshawe, Manchester, M23 9LT.