A Newbury Park teenager who survived a lifesaving kidney transplant when he was a toddler has been on a snowy adventure holiday with other young transplant patients.

Mario Alexandrakis, 13, went skiing for the first time in Switzerland with 29 other young people from all over Europe earlier this month.

He was joined by three children who had also been treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital, in central London.

Mario, of Oaks Lane, was diagnosed with a rare form of nephritic syndrome, which affects the kidneys, when he was just two years old.

He had to stay on dialysis in hospital and at home for more than a year, until he received a kidney from a deceased donor that saved his life.

Dad Andrew Alexandrakis said: “Mario had a fantastic time and is already talking about going again next year. “He has been through so much in his short life and has shown incredible courage.

“He fully deserves to go and have some fun and that’s exactly what he did.”

The holiday was organised by TACKERS Adventure Ski Camp charity, which runs trips for young transplant patients.