A BRITISH brain surgeon used an inexpensive cordless drill to remove a tumour from a fully conscious woman - and it was even caught on film.
Leading neurosurgeon Henry Marsh used a 9.6 volt Bosch drill – which cost him £30 ($65) – to perform the emergency operation on Marian Dolishny’s head while travelling through the Ukraine.

UK newspaper the Daily Telegraph reported that Mr Marsh was unable to find a suitable anaesthetist – so his patient was only given a local anaesthetic to cope with the pain.

When the cordless drill’s battery went flat, Mr Marsh was forced to finish the operation by hand and saved Ms Dolishny’s life, the newspaper said.

Mr Marsh said he kept talking to his patient throughout the surgery to make sure he wasn't causing any brain damage.

“I'm not recommending that we should all use Bosch do-it-yourself drills in England, but it shows how with improvisation you can achieve a lot,” Mr Marsh said.

“I couldn't bear to stand by and do nothing.

“A Ukrainian doctor told me I couldn't do anything to help but I wasn't prepared to accept that.”

The 58-year-old Londoner travels to the eastern European country twice a year to perform unpaid surgeries.

Documentary-makers from the BBC were following Mr Marsh’s latest visit to the Ukraine at the time of the surgery.

The documentary, The English Surgeon, will be broadcast in the UK on March 30.

WOW. That is an amazing story and very heartwarming. I can't belive there are still professionals in any field out there that are willing to help people for free. And you can only imagine the genius this man must posess to be able to do such a life threatening surgery with the tools of everyday use. It's simply astounding!!

wow at first i thought this man was insane but then i read the part about traving to do free surgurys so he;s a good man. just alittle messed up how countrys dont help out the poor in need