'Our son donating organs means he is still around'

The parents of a man from Surrey whose donated organs went on to help nine people have said it "helped massively" as they navigated their grief.

George Elliott, who was 23 when he died after suffering an aneurysm in 2015, had been interested in organ donation since watching a television programme aged 11.

His parents Claire and Mark Elliott, from Oxted, believe his decision to donate his organs means "he's still around".

Claire Elliott said: "It's helped us massively knowing that George was able to benefit so many people, even after he died...it means George's life wasn't wasted."

She said he had helped "an awful lot of people, and probably still does".

NHS Blood and Transplant previously announced an urgent response plan to address a significant decline in organ donation and transplantation across the UK.

According to the latest figures, there are more than 8,700 people currently waiting for a transplant, a rising number.

Nine people die every week waiting for a transplant, NHS Blood and Transplant said.

The Elliotts have met a man who was about 24 hours from dying until he received George's heart and lungs.

Thanks to that donation he was able to live for another seven years, supporting his children as they progressed through to university.

Mark Elliott said it was heartening to "see that they could still be a family together because of George".

His liver, kidneys, corneas and other tissues were also used to help others.

Since his death, his parents, family and friends have raised more than £125,000 for Air Ambulance Charity Kent, Surrey, Sussex (KSS), which treated George.

Saying they would "always be grateful" to KSS, Claire Elliott added: "We would encourage everyone to think about organ donation and talk to their loved ones about what they would want."

Helicopter emergency medical service paramedic David Wright, who was part of the team that attended George, praised his "extraordinary" legacy.

"Not only has he helped transform the lives of so many people through organ donation, but his family's fundraising has helped KSS continue caring for patients across Kent, Surrey and Sussex," he said.

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