George Mortlock (centre) met Sally Gunnell (left) and Ade Adepitan

Bexleyheath teen meets Olympic heroes

Robin Cottle , Reporter Monday, June 18, 2012
10:29 PM

A Great Ormond Street Hospital patient from Bexleyheath fulfilled a lifelong dream by meeting Olympians Sally Gunnell and Ade Adepitan at the opening of a new building.

George Mortlock, of Mount Road, is being treated for chronic kidney failure having undergone a successful transplant operation in November 1997.

Both Miss Gunnell and Mr Adepitan spoke of their admiration for George when they met him at the opening of the Morgan Stanley Clinical Building.

Miss Gunnell won gold in the 400m hurdles at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, while Mr Adepitan was part of the British team which won Paralympic bronze in the 2004 Athens Olympics.

He has represented Britain at the World Transplant Games, where he won two golds, a silver and a bronze for swimming in 1997. He will be carrying the Olympic torch through Faversham on July 19.

Chief executive of Great Ormond Street Jane Collins said: “Today was an important day for George for the hospital and for George.

“I want to say a huge thank you to Sally Gunnell and Ade Adepitan for coming down to offer some words of encouragement to George and other current and former patients.

Staff at the hospital praised patients who have taken part in the World Transplant Games.

Clinical nurse specialist Suzanne Bradley said: “The opportunity for our team competitors to have met champions like Sally Gunnell can only serve as a huge inspiration as they reflect on previous transplant games or prepare forthcoming competitions.”

The clinical building is an important element in the hospital’s redevelopment plan, and it is now focusing on raising £45 million for improvements which will enable the facility to treat up to 20 per cent more children.

For more information visit www.gosh.org.uk.

Share this article

Welling man charged over Millwall Wembley violence

A Welling man is one of nine who have been charged with violent disorder in connection with the trouble which marred Millwall Football Club’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on April 13.

Read full story »