Friends tell how man's organs saved four lives

London: Friends of a London man killed in a hit-and-run accident on Monday revealed how his donated organs have saved the lives of four people.

Ice hockey player Mat Hoxby, 35, was so fit at the time of his death that surgeons were able to carry out the successful transplants.

Doctors at The Royal London Hospital used his liver, both kidneys and heart to help patients aged from 27 to 62.

They included a man who had been on dialysis for 12 years and was in desperate need of a kidney transplant.

Sarah Martin, a friend of office worker Hoxby, told the Evening Standard he had always wanted to help others.

The fitness instructor, 35, said: "Mat was great fun and into keeping fit. Lots of people were left wondering 'Why Mat?' Mat was like a cat with nine lives, everyone thought he was going to pull through.

"But he was someone who always wanted to help. He carried a donor card but I don't think he was on the register. It gives us some consolation to think this gift has come out of such a tragedy."

Hoxby was declared brain dead after spending 12 days at the Royal London's intensive care unit.

He suffered multiple injuries after being hit while on his scooter last August.

The transplants took place last September. His family allowed them to go ahead after getting advice from a specially trained nurse.

Experts said the case highlights the need for more organ donation co-ordinators in hospitals, who are trained to tell relatives about benefits of donation.