A businessman is giving his life-long friend the gift of life by donating one of his kidneys.

In a rare friend-to-friend organ transplant, Derek Marshall is giving his best pal Bill Brough, both from Teesside, a kidney.

The two-hour twin operation is due to take place at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital on 13 November.

If the operation works, it will mean the 54-year-old Legionnaire's Disease sufferer will be able to live a near-normal life.

If you were a brother you wouldn't hesitate, I can manage perfectly well with one kidney

Derek Marshall

Mr Brough said: "If I believed there was any risk to Derek, I wouldn't accept this gift of life he is giving to me. It is the most incredible thing he is doing."

Unlike kidneys obtained from donors after death, there is no need for a close tissue match from a live donor.

As long as the donor is fit and healthy and has the same blood group as the recipient, the transplant has a good chance of success.

The transplant will liberate Mr Brough from punishing four-hour sessions on a kidney machine three times a week and other restrictions on his life.

The pair have known each other since they were youngsters at Whinney Banks Primary School, Middlesbrough.

Major surgery

Mr Marshall, 56, of Middlesbrough, used to run his own haulage business before joining Mr Brough's firm.

He said giving a kidney to help his friend was the obvious thing to do, despite the risk posed by major surgery.

He said: "If you were a brother you wouldn't hesitate. I can manage perfectly well with one kidney."

Until he became dangerously ill after a trip to Mexico last year, Mr Brough had enjoyed excellent health.

A go-getting businessman who runs a shipping company, he commuted all over the world and worked a 60-hour week.

But in September 2001, what was at first suspected as pneumonia was diagnosed as Legionnaire's Disease in Mexico.

Now the virus has left Mr Brough with damaged kidneys.

Mr Brough said: "I was in intensive care for weeks with tubes and wires everywhere. The people in there did a fantastic job, they saved my life."

Suitable donor

Mr Marshall who was best man at Bill's wedding and is godfather to his two teenage daughters, was by his friend's bedside at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough as often as he could be.

He said: "We didn't know whether he would make it. The nurses told me to keep on talking to him to see if he would respond."

Mr Brough, who lives in Great Ayton, Teesside, was told he would have to rely on kidney dialysis for the rest of his life, unless a suitable donor could be found.

Encourage others

With 5,600 people on the waiting list for transplants, his consultant, Stephen Kardasz, asked whether any members of his family might be suitable donors.

As a last resort, Mr Marshall suggested having tests to see if he could be a donor.

Both hope that their example will encourage other close friends to come forward and donate their kidneys at a time when waiting lists are lengthening.

Mandy McGowan, transplant co-ordinator at James Cook University Hospital, who advised the two friends, said: "It is a wonderful thing that Derek is doing for his friend. You know that they really care about each other."