A SECOND chance at life is a precious gift, one which emergency organ driver Stuart Wood knows only too well.

With the start of Organ Donation Week today, he wants to share his transplant story to get more people signing the donor register.

His determination to encourage more people to sign-up comes after NHS Blood and Transplant revealed 48 people in Oxfordshire died waiting for an organ transplant over the last 10 years.

Mr Wood was in his 40s when he was diagnosed with polycycstic cysts in his kidneys, a hereditary condition, and was on dialysis for 10 years while waiting for a transplant.

The Blackbird Leys resident said: "I was actually on dialysis when I got the call to say they had found a match for me.

"It was a surreal moment, I could not believe this was going to happen.

"I cannot put into words how grateful I am and how precious this gift is, for someone to so selflessly give me a second chance.

"It took me close to a year to write to the organ donor's family because I wanted it to be perfect and it was difficult to put into words the enormity of what they had done for me."

His successful kidney transplant in September 2016 at the Churchill Hospital was the start of a whole new life for Mr Wood and his family.

The father-of-four added: "When I met my partner Jodie Clements I knew I wanted to marry her.

"But she wanted to wait until I had my kidney transplant so that I could enjoy the day properly.

"We now have the date set for September next year."

He also decided to leave his job as a driver for Iceland to become an emergency organ driver, covering the whole of the country.

He said: "It is just my way of giving back

"Some people may call this a job but it is not that for me, I love it.

"That feeling, knowing that you are helping give people that previous gift, it is just amazing."

One organ donor is thought to be able to save up to eight lives and the same donor could improve up to 50 lives through tissue and eye donations.

Currently 59 people in the county are waiting for a transplant.

Mr Wood added: "You can transform someone's life with this selfless act.

"I think if I ever met my donor's family I would be in bits, what they have done has meant the world to me."

Mr Wood and his family will host a barbecue at The Cricketers Arms in Cowley on Saturday from 3pm, where he will be reunited with the man who received the the second kidney from the same donor.

He said: "Even if just one person came away from the event and signed up to the register, then that would be brilliant.

"One person can save many lives."