Doctor's secret double life as the wrestler El Technico

When most doctors take off their hospital scrubs at the end of a long, hard shift, they probably look forward to changing back into their jeans or popping on their slippers.

• Dr Dan Rodgers in costume as his alter ego, the wrestler El Technico

For Dr Dan Rodgers, it's an orange lycra body suit and mask that awaits him.

The 25-year-old is a devotee of the World Wide Wrestling League, or W3L, and juggles his day-time role as a senior house officer with his masked Mexican wrestling persona, "El Technico".

It might seem an odd combination, but Dr Rodgers' love of the sport has lasted since childhood. He said: "It's something that I grew up watching and I never really stopped, I guess.

"My friends watched it as well and one of them had found out about the W3L training school in Glenrothes and we all went and gave it a try.

"A few of my friends started as well but they dropped out, and I just stuck at it."

Not only did Dr Rodgers have to get fit before he entered the ring, he also had to develop the persona of his character for the theatrical sport, which is inspired by the Mexican "lucha libre" or "free fighting" style of wrestling.

He chose the name El Technico in tribute to the sport's origins: "I think the literal translation is The Technician, it's a Mexican wrestling term.

"The Technicians are what you call all the good guys in Mexican wrestling and the baddies would be called the Rudos.

"I chose the outfit because it's a Mexican-inspired persona that I'm playing and in Mexico they're very big on their masks and really, really bright colours.

"It makes you stand out among everyone else - certainly the children that come to the shows gravitate towards the characters in the bright clothes and the masks."

Dr Rodgers, who lives in Macmerry, East Lothian, has worked in hospitals around the Lothians, and has just completed his most recent placement in Fife. He is now set to head off to Sydney, where he will work in emergency medicine.

Having changed jobs frequently during his medical training, he has had to explain his unusual hobby to colleagues on a regular basis.

His patients are unaware of their doctor's double life though. "They're probably not that interested when they're breathless, or crying from their broken ankle, so I don't tend to bring it up with them," he said.

Dr Rodgers has not sustained any serious injuries in the ring, but his trainer, Mike Musso, said he was "handy to have around" during training.

The tough-guy persona is not an act, Mr Musso added: "A lot of people think what we do is just entertainment and it's going to be easy."It's not unusual to see new guys throwing up during the warm up.

"Only the determined are able to advance through our training program. Dan's the only student out of his group that lasted."

There will be one last chance to catch El Technico in the ring before his alter ego leaves for Australia - he fights Irishman Damian O'Connor at Aubigny Sports Centre in Haddington on Friday night. For details, see www.w3lwrestling.com or phone [phone].