A 16-year-old boy from Braintree, Essex, who died after a severe asthma attack, has saved four lives through organ donation, his family has revealed.
Michael McCarthy collapsed on his way to bed, telling his grandfather: “I can’t breathe, Granddad, I can’t breathe.” Despite emergency CPR from his mother and grandfather, and subsequent life support at a London hospital, he died five days later in November.
His donated heart, pancreas, kidneys and liver were used to save four other people. Michael, who had joined the organ donor register when applying for his provisional driving licence, had told his father: “If I die my soul is going to Heaven but my organs will live on.”
His grandfather, also Michael McCarthy, 59, said: “It makes me feel good, it’s a marvellous thing what he has done. It’s a miracle he has managed to save so many lives.”
Michael had a near-fatal asthma attack three years ago, requiring an air ambulance piloted by Prince William. His father, Michael, 37, said the family “lived in fear” of another attack. On the fatal night, Michael had taken his medicine and said goodnight before collapsing 20 minutes later; his nebuliser, pumps and EpiPen could not save him.
His father added: “He wanted to live like a normal teenager. I was like his brother as well as his father. My heart is broken.” His sister Kaitlyn, 17, said: “He lived his life to the full.”
