He has beaten illnesses that would have cost many people their lives.

Severe diabetes has led Neil Howard to have two kidney transplants, a leg amputated and caused him sight problems.

And, if that was not enough, he spent six months fighting for his life in hospital after contracting MRSA and another hospital-acquired superbug.

But Mr Howard's determination has enabled him to defy the odds and battle back to such fitness that he has become an instructor in karate which is his passion.

The 45-year-old, of Lynfield Mount, Windhill, Shipley, was nine when he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

Despite trying to control the condition with injected insulin and diet he has suffered a catalogue of problems related to the disease.

At 23 he started having laser treatment to combat diabetic eye disease and is now registered as partially-sighted.

In February, 1989, he suffered kidney failure and was put on dialysis.

This enabled him to continue with a relatively normal life, working as a pay roll manager and becoming a father to Nichola, now 12.

A breakthrough came in March, 2002, when a kidney became available and he was admitted to St James's Hospital, Leeds, for a transplant.

But a day after the operation the kidney failed due to a blood clot and it had to be removed.

His biggest battle, though, came when he contracted the hospital superbug MRSA and another hospital acquired infection, vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE).

He was moved to Leeds General Infirmary renal unit where he remained for more than six months.

Mr Howard said: "The MRSA was one of the worst things that happened to me.

"The doctors told me that it was good I was strong because it could have taken my life."

At this stage he had to give up work because of ill health, which included having to undergo dialysis three times a week at St Luke's Hospital.

Severe pain in his left leg caused by circulatory problems began to get worse and in January 2004 doctors were left with no choice but to amputate.

He said: "I got through that and in February 2005 I was put back on the kidney transplant list and two weeks later a kidney became available.

"That one worked great from the start and less than two weeks later I was back home and I have been getting better all the time.

"I have got to the point where I am looking for work and also starting to teach karate again. I do have to be careful and my days of board breaking are over but it does not stop me coaching.

"You have to have a passion in life and karate is mine."

Mr Howard has been fitted with a prosthetic limb by the regional unit at Seacroft Hospital, where experts have helped him get as much flexibility as possible into the limb to enable him to do karate.

He said: "There were teething problems to get it right but I have got used to it now.

"I am not as nimble as I used to be but I can still get around."

Despite his health problems Mr Howard believes himself to be more fortunate than many.

He said: "When I was a kid you could not test blood sugar, but now you can do it in seconds, insulin is better and knowledge on what foods to eat is better and these developments have come in time for me and there is no excuse not to manage diabetes.

"I still spend a lot of time in clinics but I just want to get on with life and I am pleased with the way things are going.

"I have done voluntary work with disabled people who have severe problems and I feel luckier than a lot of people."

Mr Howard teaches karate on Saturdays between 10am and 1pm at the Mechanics Institute Youth Club in Stony Lane, Eccleshill, Bradford.

For further information about the classes, which are suitable for children and adults, e-mail bfd-kofukan@blueyonder.co.uk e-mail: claire.lomax@bradford.newsquest.co.uk