They share a rare heart condition – and have both undergone the same life-changing operation by the same consultant.

It was because of Martin's heart defect that his four-year-old son Harry's was fixed immediately. "We are very grateful," Mr Hepworth said. "We had so much confidence in surgeon Nihal Weerasena for noticing the condition.

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"Harry recovered in a fraction of the time I did. He is like a different child, he has so much energy now."

Mr Hepworth, 37, was born with a hole in the heart and had surgery as a child.

When his six-year-old daughter Eleanor was a baby, he developed pneumonia and doctors discovered he needed another operation.

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But when medics started the keyhole surgery, they noticed a more serious condition, partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (PAPVD), where a veins from the lungs goes into the wrong part of the heart.

Left untreated, it would have shortened the IT firm boss's life.

In 2006 Mr Hepworth underwent a bigger operation carried out by consultant cardiothoracic surgeon Mr Weerasena at LGI.

It was a success – but the couple's son Harry was found also to have a
hole in the heart.

Doctors realised the condition was inherited down the male side of the family as Martin's brother had also been affected.

In 2008 Harry had his operation, also carried out by Mr Weerasena.

"We didn't know at the time he had this PAPVD as well, we didn't find out until he had the operation," Martin said. "We were very lucky we had the same surgeon."

The condition could be corrected immediately, rather than Harry needing a second operation.

Now the pair have inspired a fundraising drive for the LGI-based Children's Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF).

Harry's mum Katie's uncle Norman Mason is president of Leeds Lions Club. "It got to me and I decided I had got to do something," he said.

He chose the CHSF as his charity for the year and fundraising events included can collections, a race night, cookery demonstration and barbecue.

They collected a total of £4,000, which will go towards buying a £9,000 baby warmer.

Sharon Cheng, director of the CHSF, said: "It is a much wanted and valued piece of equipment," she said. "We are thrilled it can be supplied to the paediatric cardiology unit." Log on to www.chsf.org.uk for more on the charity.