A police officer who delivered the devastating news of a young man's death two decades ago has performed the ultimate act of kindness by donating his kidney to save the mother's life.
From Tragedy to an Unbreakable Bond
In October 2004, police family liaison officer Tim Swinburn knocked on the door of Clare and Ivan Brixey in the early hours to inform them their 20-year-old son, Ashley, had been killed. The car he was travelling in through Bath had flipped over and landed in a swimming pool, where he tragically drowned.
Clare, then 39, was already battling kidney failure and receiving dialysis at home when the officer arrived. "It ripped our world apart," Clare, now 61, recalls of that night. "We have never got over it, we just have learnt to live with it."
Despite the horrific circumstances of their meeting, a lasting friendship formed. Tim, a father of four, kept in touch with the grieving family over the years, offering support as they navigated their loss.
A Lifeline Fails, and a Friend Steps Up
A year after Ashley's death, in October 2005, Clare received a kidney transplant from an anonymous donor, a middle-aged man who had died from a brain haemorrhage. That gift gave her nearly two more decades with her daughter, Melissa.
However, in July 2022, Clare was diagnosed with skin cancer on her upper lip. The necessary radiotherapy treatment caused her transplanted kidney to fail. Facing a return to exhausting dialysis and a long wait on the transplant list due to her age, her future looked bleak.
When Tim, now a support worker for the homeless, learned of Clare's desperate need for a second transplant, he did not hesitate. "He said straight away, 'well, in that case, you’re going to have one of mine'," Clare said. After 18 months of tests, Tim was confirmed as a match.
A New Chapter and a Christmas Celebration
The life-saving surgery took place on 25 September 2025 at Southmead Hospital in Bristol. Both made remarkable recoveries, leaving hospital within four days. Clare was back riding her horse within three weeks.
"It was so emotional to see him afterwards," Clare said. "I couldn’t believe what he had done for me. Tim is the most selfless person - he always thinks of others."
Their extraordinary bond, forged in tragedy, is now stronger than ever. "We are so close that I know if she’s having a problem my phone will ring and vice versa," Tim explained. "I couldn’t let Clare lose her life, she’s an amazing lady."
After spending last Christmas in hospital, both are fully recovered and plan to celebrate this year together. Typically, Tim will be spending part of Christmas Day on a fundraising walk for the homeless, a cause close to his heart.
Reflecting on their unique journey, Tim added: "To see that change in her and see her have a life again, is the best gift I could ask for this Christmas."
