York teen's night with the stars at extraordinary reunion with surgeon who saved him
Cameron, Mel and Jack Grealish at the Pride of Britain Awards 2026. (Image: Cameron Scott)
A HEART patient from York stepped onto the national stage alongside 18 others to surprise the world-leading cardiac surgeon who saved them.
Cameron Scott, from Heworth, is a former patient of the pioneering surgeon Asif Hasan at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle where he underwent a delicate six-hour operation.
Now 70, Mr Hasan was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Pride of Britain Awards for his work transforming children's heart surgery and transplantation, and saving thousands of lives.
Former patients surround cardiac surgeon Asif Hasan on stage at the Pride of Britain Awards 2026. (Image: Pride of Britain Awards)
Mr Hasan retired after more than 30 years as head of paediatric cardiac surgery at the Freeman Hospital. Throughout his career, he performed about 400 transplants and played a significant role in training the next generation of children's heart surgeons in the UK and internationally.
Nineteen of his former patients, aged between 10 and 43, surprised him by surrounding him on stage when he received the Pride of Britain award.
Cameron Scott, from York, reunited with his cardiac surgeon Asif Hasan at the Pride of Britain Awards 2026. (Image: Cameron Scott)
Among them was Cameron who said he didn't hesitate when invited to join the surprise.
"When they asked me, I said 'It is the least I can do'. He saved my life."
Mr Hasan wiped away tears during the emotional reunion, and said he was speechless.
Cameron, now 19, was born at York Hospital in 2006 with critical aortic stenosis, when his aortic valve was fused shut. He underwent emergency, lifesaving keyhole surgery when he was just four days old.
Cameron, aged 11, with world-leading cardiac surgeon Asif Hasan following his six-hour operation at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. (Image: Cameron Scott)
Cameron went on to have open heart surgery when he was three years old, and then underwent surgery at 11 when Mr Hasan replaced his faulty aortic valve with his own pulmonary valve.
Last year, in March 2025, when Cameron was 18 and studying at York College, he underwent yet more surgery at the Freeman Hospital, after routine scans revealed his aorta had stretched.
"They put a 3D printed sleeve over the aorta to stop it printing. That should last, hopefully, a lifetime," he said. "They also replaced a valve."
Cameron said it was a special moment to be able to help celebrate Mr Hasan's incredible career at the Pride of Britain Awards.
"He was the best of the best," he said.
Cameron's parents Jacqui and Allan said they couldn't thank Mr Hasan enough.
Jacqui said: "Thank you will never be enough. It’s thanks to Mr Hasan and the other amazing surgeons that we have our son and get to watch him achieve everything he is meant to. We are so pleased Mr Hasan has been recognised with this award, he is truly inspirational."
Cameron Scott and his partner Mel Barker, at the Pride of Britain Awards 2026, pictured with DJ Nathan Dawe. (Image: Cameron Scott)
Cameron was joined at the ceremony by his partner Mel Barker, and the pair had the opportunity to mingle with the stars after the event when they met a host of celebrities, including Everton footballer Jack Grealish, MoneySavingExpert's Martin Lewis, DJ Nathan Dawe and other famous faces.
Cameron Scott, from York, at the Pride of Britain Awards 2026, with Coronation Street star Antony Cotton. (Image: Cameron Scott)
"I also had a chat with the other patients about what they had had done, and what they were going through," said Cameron. "We have all been through the same thing - we literally all had the same scars."
Cameron, Mel and Jack Grealish at the Pride of Britain Awards 2026. (Image: Cameron Scott)
During his career, Mr Hasan co-led Newcastle's 'bridge to transplant' programme, which resulted in the Berlin Heart, a mechanical blood pump that keeps infants and children alive while they wait for a suitable organ donor.
He also pioneered the 'bootlace closure' technique, allowing children to receive donor hearts that would otherwise be too large for them.
Recommended reads:
Mr Hasan became known for never turning down a surgery, often taking on the cases of the sickest children in the country, even when the outcome looked bleak.
Many of these cases had been rejected by other cardiac centres as too high-risk.
Former Pride of Britain Children of Courage Max Johnson and Cecilia Adamou are among those whose lives he saved.
Reflecting on his career, Mr Hasan said: "There have been big highs and big lows.
"My heart swells when I hear about a survivor doing so well, but I do remember all the traumatic cases where someone died.
"I’ve seen human misery up close, but also human resilience and courage. I’m quite an ordinary person, but I had so many extraordinary colleagues with me who gave their lives to the patients."
Asif Hasan with Carol Vorderman who co-hosted the 27th annual Pride of Britain Awards on Monday, October 19, 2026, at London's Grosvenor House Hotel. (Image: Pride of Britain Awards)
He added: "Not just consultants, but nurses, incredible, incredible people. I wanted to train people so that they are not only competent, but better than me, and that’s what I have achieved.
"That is my proudest achievement."
The Freeman Hospital’s children’s heart unit is one of only two UK centres performing heart and lung transplants on children, and the only one offering cardiac care from before birth through adulthood.
*The Pride of Britain Awards 2026 will air on ITV1 and ITVX at 8pm tonight, Thursday, October 22, celebrating extraordinary people whose courage, kindness and achievements have made a difference across the UK.