A DOCTOR who had to abandon a round-the world cycle after just five months is back in the saddle after surgery.

Dr Steve Fabes was four months into his five-year trip when doctors in Greece gave him the bad news that he needed keyhole surgery on his knee, and a consequent 12-week rest.

Now Dr Fabes is flying back to Istanbul to resume his trip, which aims to raise £50,000 for medical charity Merlin.

The 28-year-old medic, who grew up in Southdale Road in North Oxford, and went to Abingdon School, said that after six weeks hobbling around on crutches, he was raring to go.

Writing on his blog, he said: “I’m 12 whole weeks post-op and my sun tan from southern Europe’s spring time has been fading in the British summer.

“The surgery went smoothly – and I even got the piece of troublesome cartilage to take home in a jar.

“I considered turning it into some sort of pendant I could wear around my neck to remind me that obstacles can be overcome but decided that was a bit excessive!”

He added: “The rest of my summer was spent working in the ICU and Accident and Emergency departments of Guys and St Thomas’s hospitals, catching up with old mates and having the occasional, but not always literal, knees-up.

“My days at home were at times frustrating but all in all I’ve had a blinding summer. The highs definitely outnumbered the lows.

“At the end of my spell at home my knee feels sturdy and I'm more than ready to return to the road.”

Dr Fabes said his injured leg was now two inches smaller in diameter then the other and warned he could face some “gruelling” challenges.

He said: “My route takes me next across an Asian land-bridge of Turkey, Syria and Jordan before I reach Egypt and then begin to cycle down the eastern side of the African continent, number two of the six on my hit list.

“I celebrate my 30th birthday in mid-September, probably in Syria. I may be alone in my tent but as long as I’m making tracks, and my knee’s behaving, I’ll be content.

“With the temperature often into the 40s in this part of the world at this time of year, it may prove to be a gruelling come-back.”

Dr Fabes has now raised £10,000 for Merlin, 20 per cent of his target.

His route will take him through regions affected by 14 neglected tropical diseases – a group of largely parasitic infections that occur in areas of poverty and affect as many as one billion people worldwide.

Merlin works to get remote medical clinics running again.

To follow his progress, or to make a donation, see Dr Fabes's website Cycling the Six.