Last updated at 14:54, Saturday, 28 November 2009

CRAVEN Park chairman Des Johnston is recovering in hospital in Blackpool after a successful quadruple heart bypass operation.

Johnston was in surgery for seven hours at Blackpool Victoria Hospital to correct a long-standing health issue.

His sister Sharon confirmed last night that the operation was a success and that the 50-year-old was more concerned with how his horse Living It Large ran at Kempton on Thursday night than with his own health.

“The hospital have told me everything has gone smoothly,” she said.

“I have spoken to the nurses this morning and asked how he was and they told me he wanted to know how his horse got on.

“That’s typical of him – we’re worrying ourselves over how he is and he wants to know how his horse got on.

“I spoke to him as well and that was the first thing that he asked me!

“He is in no pain at all and they are very pleased with how it has gone – he is a very fit person underneath.”

Johnston is expected to remain in intensive care for another day or so and stay in Blackpool for a further week before returning home to Barrow to recuperate. Unfortunately it was not all good news as Living It Large only finished fourth.

First published at 10:27, Saturday, 28 November 2009
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk