A Moldovan teenager who went to school in Esher while he received lifesaving treatment returned for an emotional reunion this month.

Andrei Zarusneak, now 18, recieved an electric shock from a freak power surge while walking past a power station in his home country in 2006.

He suffered massive burns from his head to his feet in the incident, and was left with large hole in his skull.

Moldovan doctors managed to save his life by grafting skin over the hole to protect it, but the slightest knock to his head could still have proved fatal, as there was no hard covering.

Dr Jill Evans, a GP at Esher Green Surgery, found out about Mr Zarusneak’s plight through a charity called CR2EE, and with the help of Christian Response campaigned to raise money to bring him to the UK to have the life-changing operation on his scalp.

While awaiting the operation Mr Zarusneak lived in Surrey, and Claremont School in Esher allowed him to attend for five months in 2007, providing him with a uniform, computer and books.

Three years on, Dr Evans has now organised a chance for Mr Zarusneak to return to the school and reacquaint himself with the friends in the community that banded together to fund his operation.

She said: “Andrei was absolutely delighted to see us and said the operation had completely changed his life.

“He wanted to thank everybody in England and all those who had contributed so much for what they did for him.

“He is now in his last year at school and hoping to go to university.”

The Elmbridge Guardian and Chessington World of Adventures arranged for Mr Zarusneak to visit the theme park on the eve of his return to Moldova.

His return to Claremont School will coincide with a presentation by Dr Evans on Tuesday, October 12, at 6pm about her time in Moldova.

She said: “Although I knew what I might expect to find, there were still huge surprises and shocks in store in this extraordinary country.

“Many people live in appalling conditions where the basics of life are absent, where they can neither trust nor access decent health services and where social care is almost non-existent.”