THE mother of a York man who has received a posthumous award for organ donation has spoken of her pride in her son.

Danny Tozer, 36, from Elvington, died unexpectedly last year after suffering an epileptic seizure at his assisted living house in Bishopthorpe.

The decision was made that Danny’s organs would be donated and they have since gone on to offer a new chance at life to five people.

A 13-year-old girl was able to receive a heart transplant, a man in his 30s received a kidney transplant, a woman in her 20s with severe diabetes received a pancreas and kidney transplant, a woman received a liver transplant and an older man with a family was given a lung transplant.

Danny’s parents, Rosemary and Tim, have accepted the Order of St John award for Organ Donation, on behalf of their son.

Rosemary said that Danny had been able to help so many other people had been a great comfort to them.

“It helped us a lot at the time to know such a positive thing was happening,” Rosemary said, “We are very proud of him.

“Danny always lived life to the full. He liked going to the pub and being out with a crowd, travelling and going on planes and boats. He liked having as normal life as possible. I think he would have liked to have given life to others. He didn’t want people to be ill or unhappy.”

Danny, who had autism and epilepsy, was a keen sportsman and a member of York Athletics club disability group.

The private award ceremony at which Danny was honoured was held at the National Centre for Early Music in York, with the awards presented by the Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Barry Dodd CBE.

Hundreds of families have received the award at regional ceremonies held across the UK this year.

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During 2015/16, thanks to the generosity of these donors and the support of their families, the number of deceased donors in the UK went up from 1,282 to 1,364, a rise of six per cent.

However, there are still around 6,500 people on the UK transplant waiting list and around three people die each day in need of an organ.

NHS Blood and Transplant is calling for people to be inspired by the actions of these donors.

Major David James, chair of the local county priory group of the Order of St John, said: “We’re delighted to be able to work with NHS Blood and Transplant to run the Organ Donor Awards for a fourth year and to meet the inspirational families attending today’s ceremony.

"Organ donation can clearly save lives and it is a genuine privilege to be able to say thank you to these families, whose loved ones have already donated their organs to assist others.

“In 2016 around three people still die every day due to the shortage of organ donors. We hope the example set by the organ donors whose lives we are honouring today encourages many others to join the NHS Organ Donor Register – a process which takes just a few minutes online.”

Sally Johnson, director of organ donation and transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “The sense of pride families feel at these ceremonies is truly inspirational. Everyone I have spoken to is glad that their relative was able to be an organ donor.

"Families take great comfort from knowing that their loved one went on to save and improve the lives of desperately ill people.

“Transplant patients tell us that organ donors and their families are heroes. This award is a chance for us all to recognise their bravery and generosity. We hope these awards will inspire other people to tell their families they want to be an organ donor and then register their decision.”

To join the NHS Organ Donor Register visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 2323.