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Man Set To Undergo The World's First Head Transplant Says He 'Knows The Risks'

Man Set To Undergo The World's First Head Transplant Says He 'Knows The Risks'

The transplant is due to be carried out in December 2017.

Sian Broderick

Sian Broderick

Featured image credit: PA Images

A terminally ill man who is set to undergo the world's first head transplant next year has spoken out about the controversial procedure, saying he 'knows the risks'.

Valery Spiridonov, 31, from Russia, suffers from Werdnig-Hoffmann disease, which is a rare form of spinal muscular atrophy.

However, he is undergoing the opinion-dividing surgery as he wants to be given a shot at having a new body before the disease kills him.

He told MailOnline: "If you want something to be done, you need to participate in it. I do understand the risks. There are many.

"We can't even imagine what exactly can go wrong. I'm afraid that I wouldn't live long enough to see it happen to someone else."

However, many surgeons have spoken out about the procedure and warned, if it doesn't kill him, it could cause Spiridonov to go insane.

President elect of the American Association for Neurological Surgeons, Dr Hunt Batjer, said: "I would not wish this on anyone.

"I would not allow anyone to do it to me as there are a lot of things worse than death." Jheez. That doesn't sound very promising, does it?

Italian surgeon Dr Sergio Canavero - who has been dubbed 'Dr Frankenstein'- will carry out the £14million experimental transplant in December 2017.

The procedure will involve more than 150 doctors and nurses and it is expected to take 36 hours.

It will be fucking incredible if it works and I wish this guy all the luck in the world.

Words by Sian Broderick

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