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A man who underwent three kidney transplants before he turned six has praised the "gift of life" granted by donors.

Murray Beehan, 32, has suffered kidney problems all his life.

His first transplant failed after a week due to infection, the next was damaged by a clot within a month, while the third lasted for 26 years.

Mr Beehan has praised organ donors, on the third anniversary of Wales' soft opt-out system of consent.

In 2015, Wales became the first UK country where those who have not decided for or against donation were considered donors.

Organ donation consent rates in Wales are now the highest in the UK.

Mr Beehan, who lives in Builth Wells, Powys, said he thinks the Welsh donation policy is a good thing for patients, adding: "Without the gift of life you don't have a chance.

"You can't put into words how much that means."

The financial adviser, who has dialysis three days a week, needs another transplant, but it would need to be from a live donor because of complications with his health.

Data released last month showed for the first time, an increase in the donation after brain stem death (DBD) consent rates in Wales to 88.2% when compared to England, with rates of 73.3%.

The donation after circulatory death (DCD) consent rate in Wales has also improved and is now 68% compared to England's 59.8%.

Health secretary Vaughan Gething said that they made the right decision in changing the consent rules, and added it was "not acceptable" that there were people dying as they waited for transplants.

He added: "Communicating your organ donation wishes to family and loved ones is crucial.

"We see from the NHSBT figures that there were a number of cases where families have overridden their relatives' decision on the organ donor register, or not supported deemed consent."