Brotherly love has given a new lease of life to a man who fell seriously ill on holiday.

Darren Hampton was facing death or a lifetime on a dialysis machine after his kidneys failed on a family holiday but his brother stepped forward to give him one of his own kidneys.

Now Mr Hampton is fighting fit, and enjoying his hobby as a martial arts instructor. His younger sibling, Paul Hampton, a will consultant, of Manor Fields, Crawley, said the operation had brought the family closer together.

He said: "Everybody's been brilliant and our parents were great."

The brothers were on a family holiday with their parents in Snowdonia when Darren complained of flu-like symptoms. Putting it down to a winter virus he ignored the symptoms until his wife, Vanessa, forced him to see a doctor.

By the time he went to hospital, doctors told him only two per cent of his kidneys were working and he could have died within days.

He then had to endure three hours of dialysis treatment three times a week, and could only drink one pint of water a day throughout the summer.

The only hope of a normal life for Darren, 34, an estate agent, from West Byfleet was a transplant and Paul immediately offered to undergo six months of tests to find out if he was a donor match and healthy enough to go through with the operation.

Paul said: "I realised being a close relative and healthy I would be the greatest chance he had for a match so I volunteered."

Darren said: "I was pleased but I kept thinking the whole time, 'Just take it day by day'. I couldn't get my hopes up because you just don't know."

Both brothers were apprehensive before the operation with Paul having to undergo hypnosis to overcome his needle phobia before the transplant.

They were in adjoining operating theatres for the day-long operation which was fraught with difficulties for surgeons. Kidneys usually have one artery and one vein attaching them to the body but Paul's kidney had three arteries and two veins.

After a harrowing two days, the kidney began to work and both brothers recovered within four months.

Darren said: "Daytime television is the best incentive to get back to work. I'm healthier than I was before."

Paul said: "There's nothing I could do before I can't do now. I've got a relatively large scar but I'm fit and healthy."

Although Darren now has to take seven drugs daily and is cautious with his martial arts hobby, he regularly swims and runs. Paul regularly swims, kick-boxes and runs.

Now Paul and his wife, Rebecca, are determined to raise money for research into kidney failure. Little is known about the causes of renal failure and Darren's donated kidney will need to be replaced in 20 years.

Rebecca, 26, an IT trainer, completed the 150-mile Sahara marathon last year.

In October, she will take on a 200km jungle trek in Brazil to raise £50,000 for Kidney Research UK. She said: "It pushes you so much further if it's something close to your heart."

To sponsor Rebecca, visit www.justgiving.com/junglebec