THE man who became Britain’s first hand transplant patient is due to leave hospital tomorrow.

And former pub landlord Mark Cahill is hoping it will mean a return to a life of normality – particularly being able to dress and feed himself.

The pioneering operation on December 27 meant Mark, 51, was given the hand of an anonymous donor after years of suffering from severe gout, which left him unable to do simple tasks.

Now he and his wife Sylvia are hoping for a bright new future - and have offered their thanks to the mystery donor.

The couple used to run the popular Shears pub in Greetland.

Mark says he can’t help thinking about who the hand came from — something he will never be told.

Both he and his wife are getting psychological help to make sure they don’t reject it.

That was the case for the world’s first hand transplant patient, Clint Hallam, who decided he could not live with “a dead man’s hand”.

Mark said: “Obviously the thought goes through your mind who the donor is. You think about what the hand has done, where it has been.

“When I wake up my first thought is, ‘Ooh, there’s my new hand’. It’s still such a novelty.”

His transplant on December 27 was a UK first — and is also thought to be the first time anywhere a hand has been removed and replaced in the same op.

Mark said: “They haven’t talked about the donor at all. They can’t for data protection reasons.

“He is obviously a man roughly of my weight and build, but I don’t know any more than that. I appreciate the gift he has given me. His family deserve so much thanks for what they have done for me.”

Mark said was ecstatic when he came round from the eight-hour op at Leeds General Infirmary.

He said: “I could see my new fingers out of the end of the splint. I looked at them and already there was a little bit of movement. It was the first time I had moved my hand for five years. I thought, ‘I’ve got a proper hand on here now’.”

Mark describes the hand as a “perfect match”, but admits his wrist still looks like a wound.

“At the moment the new hand looks strange but once the stitches have healed it will hardly notice.”

He added: “They ask you directly if you would accept a new hand. If you show any slight hesitation in answering, they are not going to accept you on the programme. The psychologist is there any time I need her. And she’s there for my wife because it is difficult for her too.”

Mark, once a top amateur rugby league player, began having problems with gout, a form of arthritis, 20 years ago.

He said: “I was in agony. I was crying. It progressed throughout my body and I started getting lumps and bumps all over the place.

“I had six operations on my hand to cut the infection out. It ruined my hand and I came out in a wheelchair. It was very, very painful.”

The proud grandad is also keen to show off his new hand to his three-year-old grandson Thomas.

“He knows me as ‘Grandad poorly hand’. Soon he’ll just know me as Grandad.”

Mark’s wife Sylvia said: “Everybody has been asking ‘What will you feel about holding a stranger’s hand?’. Obviously it will be strange but it will be great.

“I hadn’t been able to hold his old hand for years. I would go up to him, and hug up to him rather than hold his hand.

“I am so used to Mark having a hand that is not working. Now he’s got one that’s looking normal. It’s as if he’s got his old hand back.”