Welsh rugby player needs £500,000 for a new heart after collapsing in training

Doctors gave him only 12 months to live.

A former Wales international rugby player is fundraising £500,000 to buy a new heart after spending more than eight years being kept alive by a machine.

Rhys Thomas was 29 when he almost died from a heart attack during a training session with the Dragons rugby team in Newport.

After losing 50% of his heart muscle, the dad-of-four, originally from South Africa, was forced to give up his spot on the team and retire immediately.

Doctors gave him 12 months to live and two choices – see out the rest of his days or get an artificial pump, called a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), implanted. He chose the latter.

Nearly a decade later, Mr Thomas’ heart is working mechanically and in September, he will be marking his eighth anniversary living with the device.

However, the LVAD has its limitations. The longest anybody has survived with one in the UK is 11 years.

‘Living with a machine that has quite literally kept me alive for the past eight years has been tough both mentally and physically,’ Mr Thomas said.

‘During this time, even an appendix operation led to a blood clot in my LVAD, resulting in a huge haematoma and a silent stroke.

‘All these traumas and challenging personal life circumstances led to a battle with alcohol addiction.

‘Thankfully, I am now 30 months sober, four stone lighter and in the best state of health mentally and physically that I possibly can be living with a LVAD.

‘I have learned exactly how precious life is and to be grateful for every day that I am able to watch my four beautiful children grow up.

‘The harsh reality, however, is that the clock is ticking, and I need a new heart if I want to extend my life.’

Mr Thomas plans to travel to San Diego, California, in the hope of getting a transplant in a private hospital.

To fund the surgery and the 5,300-mile journey, he needs at least half a million pounds.

So far, his Just Giving campaign has raised more than £10,000 – but this is only 2% of what he would need.

Mr Thomas said: ‘Given that I have no reasonable prospect of having a transplant in the UK, I have been forced to look for other alternatives.

‘A decision to travel abroad in order to have a heart transplant is not one that I have taken lightly.

‘The last 10 years have been incredibly challenging for me and my family and I have learnt and lost a great deal.’

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