HE FOUGHT for his life and won. Now Ashley Parker is a living, breathing advertisement for organ donation.

The 26-year-old has stared death in the face, and his mother sums it all up when she says: "We're just relieved he's still here."

Ashley, from Acomb, York, was shattered when he learned he had suffered double kidney failure at the age of 24. And then he was told he only had five years to live.

But a kidney donated by a dead man whose name he still does not know has meant Ashley is able to look to the future.

"A cat has nine lives. I've been given a second one," says the former barman who was devastated to learn last year he was suffering from end-stage kidney failure and would need a kidney transplant which, given his rare blood group, massively reduced his chances of survival.

But after an agonising wait, a suitable donor was eventually discovered, and although the family of the person who gave Ashley the gift of life may always remain a mystery, he said: "There were times when I did fear the worst and I just tried to put it to the back of my mind.

"To be honest, I expected something like this to affect people in their fifties. My life changed so much when I started having treatment - I became boring.

"I was diagnosed after my kidneys had died and the doctors had informed me that a new kidney match was unlikely due to my blood type. But by luck, my Uncle Nigel came forward and was a perfect match, so he was put forward for a transplant at the end of this year.

"Then a match was found off the transplant register and I was taken in St James' Hospital in Leeds.

"Touch wood, everything seems to be working."

As he recuperates, Ashley's health problems have forced him to review his life, and he says: "The drugs I have to take mean my immune system is vulnerable and if I catch a cold, I have to call St James' Hospital, in Leeds, which is where I had my transplant operation.

"I have to be careful when I'm around people in the supermarket or on the bus. It feels as if I have a whole new set of rules, but that's such a small price to pay.

"The rules I have to live by with having a new kidney are a lot better than what I would have to do without one."

And Ashley, who is grateful to all the staff at York Hospital and St James' Hospital who helped him through his darkest days - has a particularly simple, but heartfelt message for the family of his kidney donor: "Thank you".

"If I could meet them face-to-face, I just would not know what to say apart from that," he said. "No amount of words could express what I feel about it."

The relief in the voice of Ashley's mum, Lynda, is clear when she says: "When we first found out there was a problem, our reaction was utter disbelief.

"We had to face up the possibility of losing Ashley and we're so grateful he is still here. All we can do is thank the family who donated a kidney for giving him a new lease of life."