A 14-year-old goalkeeper who died after being injured in a football match has saved four lives through organ donation, his family has said. Luca Campanaro was injured while playing for Bedgrove Dynamos in Hillingdon, west London, on Sunday and died the following day.
His mother, Jo Campanaro, said Luca, from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, had recently spoken about organ donation after watching a television show. She said it made the decision to donate "so much easier for me and his dad". Luca had "made his mind up and he was happy to donate everything apart from his eyes". On Tuesday, his father, Americo Campanaro, said "four lives are going to be saved because of Luca".
The teenager was playing an under-15 match against Harefield United when he collided with another player. He was airlifted to hospital but died the following day. His mother, who was watching the match with Luca's grandfather, Gerard Conroy, a former RAF nurse, described the moment she realised how serious the injury was. "I knew it was serious from the minute he went down and he didn't get back up, so I stayed away," she said. "I knew my dad was there with him."
Ms Campanaro said the family had been overwhelmed by support, with £21,000 donated following Luca's death. The funds will cover the cost of his air ambulance and be given to a brain injury charity. She added: "You go to football on the Sunday and you expect to bring your son home and sadly this week I haven't."
