A father who spent months in hospital to be with his young son has been given an award.

Sean O’Grady from Elmgrove Road, Harrow, was crowned Dad of the Year for his commitment and to his son Oscar, who had to undergo a series of heart operations as a baby.

Mr O’Grady was nominated for the award by a father whose little boy Sam was also having heart treatment at Evelina London Children’s Hospital in November last year.

In his nomination, the father, who asked to be known as ‘Sam’s Dad’ said: “Sam’s illness was one of the most difficult things my wife and I have ever gone through, but we were relatively lucky as he made a speedy recovery and we were allowed to take him home a week after the operation.

“But Oscar had to have complicated repeat surgery and was at the hospital for over two months.

“Having been through something similar, I still find it hard to believe that Sean and his wife managed to stay so positive through it all.”

Mr O'Grady and his wife Danni attended the ceremony, hosted by DADS.info, on Saturday, May 16, to pick up the award.

The 32-year-old, who grew up in Christchurch Gardens and has lived in Harrow all his life, said: "It was a bit of a shock but nice for the guy to nominate me.

“We spoke a bit but Danni, my wife, got to know the family quite well as I was at work and she was there all day and spoke to them a lot.

“He never mentioned that he’d nominated me until I was shortlisted, and then we went up to Birmingham for the ceremony and I found out I had won.”

Mr O'Grady's son Oscar, who suffers from hypoplastic left heart syndrome which is also known as half a heart syndrome, is now out of hospital following the treatment.

Mr O'Grady added: “Oscar was in hospital a long time, longer than expected. He’s still got to have another operation and he’ll have the condition forever but he’s doing well.

“At some stage he’ll have to have a heart transplant but at the moment he’s home and he’s fine.”