A Northern Ireland mother is recovering after making it to hospital for a life-saving lung transplant - with just 10 minutes to spare.
Ms Mandy McElveen (25) was in intensive care last night after being given the transplant at a Newcastle upon Tyne hospital. All signs suggest that the operation was a success. But it was a close-run thing.
A search was launched on Sunday for Ms McElveen who had gone for a drive with her husband, unaware a matching organ had been found for her.
The RUC began a search of Belfast for the McElveens' car and a flash was put out on local radio and TV stations.
Ten minutes before surgeon Asif Hassan would have been forced to give the lung to another patient, Ms McElveen's mother tracked her down to a friend's home.
A call went in to the hospital and she was flown to Britain.