He got up before six last Tuesday morning, plugged the tubes into his stomach for 30 minutes of dialysis, whipped them out again, grabbed his sports bag and rushed out the door – and off to the swimming pool where he coolly won four European medals.

Skerries man Peter Heffernan (52) was one of the real heroes of this week’s 5th European Transplant & Dialysis Games in Wurzburg, Germany, where the Irish team last night (SATURDAY) brought their medals tally to almost 40.

“I have to self-dialyse four times a day. That’s just the way it is. I accept it, and I try to live as normal a life as I possibly can. It takes about 30 minutes a day, and you have to plan your day around it, but it’s keeping me alive now that my kidneys have failed,” said the father-of-two, who has branched out to set up his own safety consultancy business.

“Sport is an excellent outlet for me. I’ve always been a swimmer, so when I started on dialysis just over a year ago, I was adamant I would continue to be involved in the sport. Swimming is wonderful, it keeps me fit, and these Games have given me something to aim at.

“My attitude is that you just get on with it. I don’t believe in feeling bad for myself. Instead, I live life as fully as I can, and the Games have shown that I’m doing quite well on that front, as is everyone else on the team.”

And how. In championships that brought together almost 400 athletes from 24 countries, Peter won silver medals in the 50m and 100m freestyle races, and bronze in the 50m breaststroke and the 400m freestyle.

As the swimmers battled their way up and down the SV 05 pool, family and friends kept up a constant chorus poolside. For many, the real triumph lies in just taking part, as every competitor is either on dialysis or a transplant recipient.

“The Irish team want to get the message out that an active, sporting life is possible when you’re on dialysis or after getting your transplant. Everybody on the team has travelled a tough journey in life, but we’re all still here, and we’re all enthusiastic and positive,” said Peter.

“This is my first team being on the Irish team, and I found the company of the other athletes exhilarating,” said Peter.

“It has given me a great boost and I will go home now train harder, and look forward to the 2010 European Transplant & Dialysis Games, which will be staged in Dublin for the very first time. Maybe by then, I will be a transplant competitor, but if I’m still on dialysis, I will continue to be as positive as I am now.”

Peter is one of three dialysis athletes on the 23-strong Irish team – the other two, Darren Cawley, Westport, and Chikoyo White, Balbriggan, both won medals at the Games.

The athletes will be accorded an emotional homecoming this evening (SUNDAY) when they arrive in Dublin Airport. Peter’s wife Patricia and sons Cian and Pearce will be among the family members waiting to greet the Irish heroes of the Games.

More details on the team on www.transplantteamireland.com.

For an organ donor card free text the word ‘DONOR’ to 50050 or for more information log on to www.ika.ie. “By carrying a donor card, you give the gift of life. Please carry one,” added Peter.