A student has spoken of how he cut out alcohol so he could save his father's life by donating him half his liver.

Deraj Wilson-Aggarwal, 21, said he "jumped at the chance" to help his father, Naresh Aggarwal, 54, who caught hepatitis C from a blood transfusion, which led to cirrhosis of the liver and then cancer.

The zoology student is now recovering from the operation in June, but said he actually feels healthier than ever now due to the changes to his lifestyle and does not even miss the heavy drinking that comes with student living.

Mr Wilson-Aggarwal, who had just begun his second year at Bristol University when he found out his father's health problems had taken a turn for the worse in November 2014, said that at first his older brother, Jared, 25, had offered to donate his liver.

As the eldest son he felt he should shoulder the responsibility, but tests found that his own liver was not suitable.

Mr Wilson-Aggarwal said: "When we found out the risk was too high for him to do it, I was straight in there. I had stopped drinking anyway as soon as I found out there was a possibility I could donate. From then on I was basically badgering my brother to let me do it.

"Being a student, it was obviously a bit of a change, but it's also led me to focus more on my studies and other things apart from my life revolving around the student lifestyle of drinking. It has actually made me healthier overall.

"Spending time in hospital has also opened my eyes to some of the health problems that other people are going through, so it really makes you think."

Mr Wilson-Aggarwal, who also has a 23-year-old sister, said although he has surprised everyone with his rapid recovery, he has been told he should not do strenuous exercise or lift weights for now.

"I'm basically back to being me," he said. "I've got to take it easy because I'm at risk of a hernia, but I seem to have made a very quick recovery."

He has been told not to drink until three months after the operation so that his own liver can recover, and although he has no plans to turn teetotal, he expects he will be more "reserved" than before.

"I'm going to have first drink with my brother, which will be nice," he added.

His father's recovery will take longer, but Mr Wilson-Aggarwal said he is also doing well.

"He was gobsmacked when I told him I would donate my liver," he added. "I jumped at the chance to help. Not everyone gets the opportunity to save someone's life, and to save the life of a family member is even better. I'm extremely grateful to have been given the opportunity."

Mr Aggarwal, from Southend, Essex, described both his sons as "heroes".

"My son's liver is bedding in nicely," he said.

"It has cured my haemophilia and my liver cancer and in due course I will be eligible to attempt newer eradication treatment for my hepatitis C.

"My extreme gratitude goes not only to the health service, the medical, surgical and nursing teams but in particular my two sons who are my heroes.

"At their tender young age they were willing to risk so much to give me another lease of life. I am extremely lucky and treasure the gift of life I have been given."

Hepatitis C is thought to affect around 215,000 people in the UK.

Mr Wilson-Aggarwal contracted it after receiving infected blood. A haemophiliac, he had an accident that required a blood transfusion, but the blood was not tested properly beforehand.

Around a third of people with hepatitis C eventually develop liver cirrhosis, and a small number of people with chronic hepatitis C and cirrhosis also go on to develop liver cancer.

In most cases it causes no noticeable symptoms until the liver has been significantly damaged, and this means that it commonly goes undiagnosed.

Professor Michael Manns, vice president of United European Gastroenterology (UEG), is calling for improvements to screening to ensure that more people are diagnosed as early as possible and have the best possible chance of a cure.

"Current treatment regimens for HCV infection can eradicate the virus in up to 100% of people treated, depending on the type of virus, the drug combination used, and the general health of the individual," he said.

"With possible cure rates as high as these, we have the potential to eradicate this infection, preventing many cases of chronic liver disease, and saving thousands of lives."