A teenager killed in a kickboxing accident went on to save seven children’s lives when his organs were donated.
Alex Eastwood, 15, is thought to have had a seizure after the bout on June 29. He suffered a bleed on the brain and was put into a coma before an emergency operation at Manchester Children’s Hospital.
But it proved unsuccessful. His parents said in a statement: “He was an inspiring, kind, caring, charming, loving young man. He was the whole world to us and to everyone he came across. His passion and dedication for his sport was outstanding and everyone could see how much of a fantastic fighter he was.”
Alex’s aunt Coleen Cullimore said: “His heart and lungs have gone to children at Great Ormond Street Hospital. He saved so many people and families. We are going through the most horrendous thing at the moment.
“But it brings us comfort to know he has given other children back to their families, and they can go and live beautiful lives.”
Alex, a member of Hurricane Combat and Fitness near his home in Fazakerley, Liverpool, had a passion for kick-boxing since taking it up aged 10. He won six championships and had travelled to Ireland, Florida and New York to compete. He planned to turn professional.
In all, seven lives were saved after Alex’s parents made the decision to allow his organs to be donated. As an under-18, the presumed-consent law the Mirror campaigned for did not apply to him but his parents allowed the donations to go ahead anyway.
The Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Act 2019 came in after the Mirror’s campaign and is informally known as Max and Keira’s Law. It refers to Max Johnson, then nine, whose life was saved by organs donated by Keira Ball, also nine, who died after a car accident. Though donation consent is now presumed, patients’ relatives are still consulted.
See more at organdonation. nhs.uk or on the NHS app.