A STROKE survivor has been given a prestigious award in recognition of his courage.

Richard Lampert was just 18 and an A-level student at Ermysted's Grammar School in Skipton, when he was struck down with viral myocarditis, resulting in heart failure and a major stroke.

His road to recovery was helped by friends who started a trust fund for his specialist treatment and he went on to become a sailing instructor, and take up a career in IT.

Mr Lampert, who now lives with his wife in Bedfordshire, was recently presented with a Stroke Survival Courage Award by the Stroke Association, in recognition of the example and inspiration he has demonstrated over the past 27 years.

His parents, Geoffrey and Anne, who live in Ilkley, want to thank those local people for their generosity and bring them up to date on Richard's success.

After being taking ill in 1987, Mr Lampert needed an urgent heart transplant, which was carried out at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital.

With his left side paralysed, he used a wheelchair while he slowly regained the use of his leg, arm and hand.

He was treated at the Younger Disabled Unit, then located in Skipton, and received private treatment in London.

After a year, Richard had gained sufficient mobility to attend Leeds Polytechnic as a disabled student, achieving an HND in Information Technology in 1991.

After a period working in IT, he set out to become a sailing instructor. Entering the UK Sailing Academy at Cowes, he qualified as senior dinghy instructor, as well as a power boat and assistant windsurfing instructor. He then worked for several years at water sports centres on the South Coast and in the Midlands.

He later worked at the Open University in Milton Keynes on systems introduction and staff training and while there, gained a BSc.

Failing health, due possibly to long term use of anti-rejection drugs, led him to taking early retirement from the OU in 2012.

Putting him forward for the award, Richard’s wife, Wendy, said: "Even when the odds were against him, Richard had shown that with determination, fighting spirit and a positive attitude remarkable things can be achieved - he is an amazing inspiration and husband."