Thornton Heath teenager Daniel De-Gale has finally been able to hug the woman who saved his life after his family was flown out to meet his bone marrow donor, almost five years after the procedure took place.

The De-Gale family flew out to Detroit, Michigan, on April 2 for an emotional five-day trip to meet Doreene Carney, whose bone marrow donation saved Daniel's life in June 1999.

The family was, at last, able to say thank you in person and also passed on letters and cards of thanks from Daniel's extended family and friends.

Daniel, now 17, was near death suffering from leukaemia when a bone marrow match was found in Doreene across the Atlantic.

The De-Gale family only discovered who the mystery donor was before Christmas and has been speaking with Doreen regularly on the telephone since.

Leicester Premiership footballer Andrew Impey, who has been following Daniel's campaign for years, funded the trip for the De-Gale family.