Health

Olympic Coach Who Died in Rio Has Saved Four Lives

August 17th 2016

From Simone Biles' brilliance in gymnastics to Katy Ledecky's dominance in the swimming pool, there's been no shortage of inspiring moments to come out of the Rio Olympic Games.

But the most inspiring moment yet may have stemmed from a tragedy — the sudden, tragic death of German canoe slalom coach Stefan Henze.

Henze, who died from car crash injuries in Rio de Janeiro, was an organ donor, and his organs have already saved the lives of four people, according to several news reports.

"Heart, liver and both kidneys have been successfully transplanted. Thus he has saved four lives,” a Brazilian health ministry spokesperson told the German newspaper Die Welt, the Independent reported. Henze's relatives reportedly gave consent to his organ donations.

Organ donations are significant in saving lives.

According to the United Network for Organ Sharing, one person is added to the national transplant waiting list every 10 minutes, and around 22 people die every day waiting to get an organ transplant. A single donor can make a huge difference and save up to eight lives.

"One thing to remember is that every number in the statistic you view is a person — a person who either needs your help and is waiting for a lifesaving transplant or a person who has left a lasting legacy through organ and tissue donation," the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states on its website. "Either way, each number represents a life, a mom, a dad, a brother, a sister or a child—someone who is important to someone else, maybe even you."

For more information on becoming an organ donor, go to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services website here.

[H/T The Independent]

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