VOLUNTEER Bill Hunt is giving up his time to help save lives on board the world’s largest hospital ship.

The 65-year-old is on the MV Africa Mercy, which provides vital healthcare to underdeveloped countries.

It is run by the humanitarian organisation Mercy Ships.

Over the seven weeks he has been board working as an electronics technician he has been amazed by the ongoings of the floating hospital.

He said: “The community is so warm and welcoming and there is always someone ready to help you. That’s before meeting the patients who come with smiles and joy despite the reasons they come to us.”

Each year the ship visits a country to help. This year it is docked in Senegal in west Africa. It has previously visited Guinea, Cameroon and Benin.

Bill discovered Mercy Ships at the annual Spring Harvest last year – a teaching and worshipping Christian event.

He said: “The plight of the people in Africa touched my heart and God prompted me.”

Mercy Ships' aim is to help tackle the surgery crisis in Africa by sending ships staffed with surgeon volunteers.

They go to the most vulnerable places to perform surgery and to train local medical professionals.

In sub-Saharan Africa, 93 per cent of the population don’t have access to safe and affordable surgery.

Any donations made to the ship by people in the UK will be matched by the government.