Papworth's pioneer heart surgeon has died

A WWII army surgeon, Christopher Parish pioneered heart and lung operations at Papworth Hospital Credit: Papworth Hospital

A former World War Two army medic who spearheaded heart and lung surgery at Papworth Hospital has died, aged 97.

Appointed in 1952, Mr Parish set-up the first specialist cardiothoracic (heart, lung and oesophagus) facilities at the Cambridgeshire hospital, as it's dependancy as a tuberculosis centre diminished.

Under Mr Parish's lead, the Papworth heart unit quickly gained a reputation for pioneering, life-saving treatments. Among the hospital's many milestones include the UK's first successful heart transplant and the World's first heart, lung and liver transplant.

Before his appointment at Papworth, Mr Parish served in the Army, working at field hospitals for the 8th Army in the North African desert, before moving on to perform live-saving treatments on troops serving against the Nazis in Italy.