AN 89-YEAR-OLD man raised £752,000 for a new cardiology department at the hospital which treated him after a heart attack.

Akbar Alli, of Corringway, Ealing, was treated at Central Middlesex Hospital after a heart attack in 1995.

This prompted him to set up the charity Heartbeat 2000, and raise money for the hospital. He persuaded pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline to donate a large part of the total.

Mr Alli was nominated by his wife, Ameera, who said: "He is a humble and selfless man who has a very high regard for his fellow humans, especially those less fortunate than himself.

"He has always done whatever he could to make better the lives of a great many people."

Mr Alli said: "The hospital was really old, with doctors carrying out examinations in the corridor.

"I believe around 40,000 patients benefit a year from the new unit. I am thrilled. In my small way I have contributed to helping so many people."

Mr Alli, a great-grandfather, also helped set up Enterprise Ealing and the Ethnic Minority Business Initiative.