BRAVE teenager Robert Daly was heading home today after stunning doctors with an amazing recovery from a double-lung transplant operation.

The 15-year-old was given the gift of life in a dramatic eight hour operation last month.

Surgeons had expected him to remain at the world-famous Great Ormond Street Hospital for six weeks.

But Robert, a huge Liverpool FC fan, was this morning getting on a train to return to Blackburn with mum Julie.

Banners and balloons covered the family home in Arran Avenue as his mates waited to welcome him back.

Step-dad Kevin said: "It's marvellous news - Robert is one in a million.

"The doctors have said they can't believe how well he's recovered from such a major operation.

"He's been great throughout the whole ordeal. He'll be on a special diet for a while and he'll have to take it easy but that won't stop him being his usual friendly self."

Robert has been watching the Euro 96 tournament while at the London hospital and was thrilled to bits when his Anfield heroes sent him a signed football after hearing of his plight. Kevin added: "That really made his day - he loves football and he'll cherish that ball forever."

Robert suffers from cystic fibrosis and has been in and out of hospital fighting the effects of the disease for the last 10 years.

His condition has deteriorated over the last several years and he carried a bleeper with him at all times so he could be rushed to hospital as soon as a donor was found.

Robert, who formerly lived in Ribblesdale Avenue, Accrington, underwent a delicate eight-hour operation, which should now enable him to lead a normal life.

The former Accrington Peel Park Primary schoolboy celebrated his 15th birthday just a week after the operation. He has a brother John, who also has cystic fibrosis and sister, Gemma.

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