A DOUBLE kidney transplant patient from Halesowen is going for gold at this year's British Transplant Games.

Martin Searle will look to add to his eight Transplant Games medals in Birmingham this August when competing in snooker and darts.

He is returning to competition following his second kidney transplant in 2015 and a four-year course of dialysis.

Martin, from Halesowen, first competed in the Transplant Games when they were last held in Birmingham in 1999. At the 2006 games in Bath he continued to compete even after breaking his ankle.

Martin said: “To everybody intending on competing in this year’s Westfield Health British Transplant Games, my congratulations go out to all of you, as we are all winners even before the games begin.

"We have been lucky enough to get what we needed, and now have the chance of competing in this prestigious event."

Martin is the joint team manager of the Birmingham Adult Transplant Sports Team and is hoping to enlist new competitors ready for the games in August. Over 1,000 people will take part in 24 different sports at the games hosted by the University of Birmingham.

He added: “The value of organ donation is unparalleled. Without it, I would probably not be here. I have been lucky to receive the gift of life twice."