Man gets first ever pig-heart transplant

Doctors transplanted a pig's heart into a man for the first time. The man is 57 and was very ill. The pig's heart was his only chance of staying alive. He is doing well after his operation. He spoke to doctors before the operation. He said: "It was either die or do this transplant. I want to live." The pig's heart came from a genetically-modified pig. Scientists changed the pig's genes so it would work in a human.

The transplant took seven hours. Scientists have been researching animal organ transplants for many years. There could be more transplants in the future. It could bring the world, "one step closer to solving the organ shortage crisis". The man's doctor said animal organs give people, "an important new option…in the future." The man hopes his transplant will let him live longer. He said: "I look forward to getting out of bed after I recover."