A MAN is celebrating his very own Christmas miracle as he returns home after surviving a notoriously dangerous operation.

Mike Rogers is enjoying the festive season at his home at The Green, near Millom, after undergoing a life-saving operation earlier this year.

The 72-year-old suddenly became ill when he was driving home from a walk on Haverigg beach with his wife, Joyce, in October.

He said: “It was just a normal day. We had been on our normal walk when I got in the car and suddenly began to feel ill.

“Everything was closing in on me and I knew I was going to die, it was as simple as that."

As they were driving home, Mr Rogers suddenly began to feel unwell and suddenly pulled over to the side of the road.

Mrs Rogers said: "He suddenly stopped the car, put on his hazard lights and started saying 'I'm dying, I'm dying'."

With no phone, she then flagged down a passing driver who dialled 999 and within minutes, an ambulance was at the scene.

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Mr Rogers was rushed to the Lancashire Cardiac Centre at Blackpool Victoria Hospital after suffering an aortic dissection, a tear inside the aorta which leads to internal bleeding and severe pain.

He underwent a seven-hour operation but doctors became concerned when they couldn't get his heart to start.

Mrs Rogers said: "It was a crucial moment. It was a life and death situation but I can't fault the treatment we had."

An hour later and the doctor returned with a smile to say the operation had been a success.

Mr Rogers's condition was extremely dangerous, with just a small percentage of people surviving the ordeal.

According to Dr Nidal Bittar, the doctor who led the operation, 40 per cent of patients die immediately before reaching the hospital and one per cent die every hour after the incident making urgent action a priority.

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The surgery itself is extremely dangerous and carries a mortality rate of up to 30 per cent.

Against the odds, Mr Rogers survived and returned home just last week after spending eight weeks in intensive care.

The couple are delighted to be able to tell the tale and are now looking forward to Christmas and the New Year

Mrs Rogers said: "It's the best Christmas present we could ever give to each other.

"I think he will be a different person now. He won't worry about the little things like before.

"It's shown us that you just don't know what's around the corner. Nobody does and you've just got to live life to the full and enjoy it.

"It's not about the little things – they don't matter in the bigger picture."

Recuperating at home, Mr Rogers added: “It was incredible really how my life changed in those few hours. Apparently they had been working on me for a long time to try and bring me round and they almost decided to stop working on me.

“But they kept going and I can’t thank them enough.

“I shouldn’t be here really. It’s an absolute miracle."