The world's first surgery to be broadcast live through virtual reality is happening today in London.

Dr Shafi Ahmed, a cancer surgeon at the Royal London Hospital who is pioneering VR surgery, is today broadcasting the first live surgery - in virtual reality.

The operation is being performed on a British man in his 70s, with colon cancer and will be streamed to thousands of medical students (and anyone else) watching on VR headsets such as £10 Google Cardboard and their smartphones.

The patient is said to be "excited" about the prospect of his surgery being broadcast across the world.

The operation, which is being filmed on two 360 degree cameras with multiple lenses, will broadcast a minute or so behind the surgery in case of any unforeseen complications.

Viewers will be able to zoom in on Dr Ahmed's movements and walk around the theatre to see the operation from different angles.

Students at a different hospital nearby that have been provided with VR headsets will be able to help Dr Ahmed throughout the surgery from their seminar rooms.

"I believe that virtual reality and augmented reality can revolutionise surgical education and training, particularly for developing countries that don't have the resources and facilities of NHS hospitals," said Dr Ahmed. "I am very excited about the expansion of this program to bring more medical learning to the world."