Robert Strother-Hunter, 68, of South Shields, told today how doctors in Spain twice saved his life after his colon burst.

The retired naval architect was on a four-week cruise with about 200 other people with maritime backgrounds.

They joined the MV Discovery at Istanbul in Turkey and had spent three weeks touring parts of the Black Sea, Russia and the Ukraine, before moving on to Romania, Greece, Malta and Italy.

The ship had just left Sardinia when Mr Strother-Hunter started suffering abdominal pains.

He spent 24 hours under observation in the ship's hospital before the doctor contacted his medical insurer, who took control of the situation.

The ship was directed to get as close as it could to Alicante, on the Spanish Costa Blanca, so a helicopter could pick him up.

Mr Strother-Hunter was then winched from the top deck of the ship – with fellow passengers scrapping dinner plans to watch the dramatic scenes.

"They cancelled dinner to watch the cabaret," he joked, adding: "The two pilots and the winch man did a wonderful job. It was a very hairy operation."

The flight back to Alicante took an hour and Mr Strother-Hunter was taken to Elche Hospital, where he underwent surgery.

"I was recovering, but on day six I started to go down again," he said.

"The first operation had failed, so I was taken into the operating theatre for another emergency operation to cut out the bad bit of bowel."

Mr Strother-Hunter was flown home four weeks ago, accompanied by a nurse, who told him he was lucky not to have taken ill elsewhere.

"If it had happened in the Black Sea, and I was taken to hospital in the Ukraine or Romania, I would have been a goner, because they wouldn't have been able to cope with the level of medical care that was required," he said.

"Between the doctor on board the ship, the helicopter crew and the medical staff, I have to say they saved my life, not once, but twice.

"I will feel indebted to them for the rest of my life, But for them and the work they did, I would be dead."

The whole cost of his care was covered by his £65 Post Office travel insurance.

"They even reimbursed me for the week of the cruise I didn't get," said Mr Strother-Hunter, who is now recovering at home.