A DOCTOR battled 51C temperatures and a series of punctures as he resumed his mammoth five-year round-the-world cycle ride.

Dr Steve Fabes, who is in Turkey and has clocked up 5,000km, was four months into his trip when doctors in Greece told him he needed keyhole surgery on his knee and a 12-week rest.

But one month after resuming his trip in Istanbul, Dr Fabes is facing new challenges.

The 29-year-old medic, who grew up in Southdale Road in North Oxford, and went to Abingdon School, aims to raise £50,000 for charity Merlin which gets remote medical clinics running in poverty stricken countries.

He wrote on his blog: “As I cycled on, the sweltering heat had now become more intense...I was drinking nine litres of water a day, and even then barely managing to maintain my level of hydration.

“Any food I carried with me either melted or solidified, turned blue or turned brown and always smelt only barely edible. Barely was good enough for me.

“My lips became like rubber, cracked and sore. Blisters bulged from my arms despite factor 30 sunblock. Hoards of insects tracked my every move.”

Dr Fabes, who celebrates his 30th birthday this month, paid tribute to Turkish hospitality.

He said: “Bike repair in Turkey is a communal sport. Whilst one person tries to fix the bike whilst cursing profusely (me), the other five or six individuals (usually aged less than 10) watch, giggle and point. Older onlookers join later and frequently offer advice or occasionally just grab a tool and get stuck in.”