A man who underwent a life-saving and complex 14-hour heart operation has raised over £40,000 for a hospital.

Naren Hathi was diagnosed with a severe heart condition, endocarditis, and required urgent care at Harefield Hospital.

The complex heart operation took 14 hours, and after its success he spent three months last year recovering at the hospital.

Since then various Lion Clubs in Kingsbury, Hatch End, Kenton, Hendon, Sudbury and more were among the groups to donate to a fundraiser in which Mr Hathi showed his thanks to Harefield Hospital.

The funds were raised during a two day event from Friday April to April 3, which included Marina and Melody Express playing an evening of Bollywood hits live from the UK and India and a day of 51 recitals of the Hindu timeless ode to devotion.

Mr Hathi said: “By the grace of God and the excellent care, support, and dedication of all staff at the Hospital, I am fortunate to have fully recovered.

“I cannot thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at the hospital enough for the care they showed to me as a patient and also to my family who visited regularly.”

The funds raised will go towards the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Charity’s Covid-19 Relief Fund, which aims to provide equipment and well-being for staff treating Covid-19 patients now and into the future.

Gill Raikes, chief executive of Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Charity, said: “Everyone at the Charity has been blown away by the fantastic fundraising from Naren, his friends and family.

“Their generosity will go towards supporting other Harefield patients, who are getting the same world class treatment as Naren did.”