Road accident victim's organs transplanted

A 29-year-old man who was involved in a traffic accident almost a month ago died yesterday, but several of his organs will live on after they were transplanted overnight.

Brian Vella of Qawra was admitted to St Luke's Hospital in a critical condition after he skidded on a motorbike and crashed against a pole in Burmarrad on March 9.

Mr Vella was a self-employed construction worker who was married to Graziella and had two children: seven-year-old Leon and two-year-old Lea.

He is survived by his parents Emanuel and Marthese.

His uncle, Leonard, said Mr Vella was not one who often rode motorbikes and dealt in cars to earn some money. He had purchased the machine and was delivering it to another dealer when the accident took place.

"He underwent surgery and was improving and this week he had opened his eyes but he had complications to which he eventually succumbed.

"But his family felt that others should benefit from his death and decided to donate his organs. His heart and kidneys went to three Maltese patients and a plane came to fly out his liver which had to be transplanted to a patient in Palermo.

"It is very positive and bold of his family to decide on donating organs so that others might have a better life. I appeal to others to consider organ donation. It is a very noble gesture and makes one accept such difficult moments with a certain pride," his uncle said.

The funeral will be held tomorrow at 3 p.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows church, St Paul's Bay. "I appeal to whoever knew him to pray for him and I wish those who received his organs a long and healthy life," Mr Vella said.