Hastings boy saves five lives donating his organs after Hooe crash

Harry Dennis, from Hastings, was critically injured in a car crash in December last year.

The 11-year-old was airlifted to a hospital in London where he died two days later.

His organs - his kidneys, pancreas and liver, which was split to help more than one person – have saved five people’s lives.

Harry loved football and played for his local team (Image: Family handout)

His mum Maria Dennis said: “Harry was a whirlwind, just absolutely full of life. He loved his sports and being outside, he had so many friends, he was the joker – if he made you laugh it made his day.

“He loved football, Manchester United, and he played for a local team, Hastings Athletic. He made lots of friends through football and was a real social butterfly, always talking to people when we were out and about.

“He had just started secondary school and had settled well, he took kids under his wing and was really kind and caring."

'Whirlwind' Harry also enjoyed riding his bike (Image: Family handout)

Maria added: “Harry has left a big hole, it seems so quiet and empty with him missing, which is what is so hard. He had such an impact on so many people.

“Last December there was a car accident and Harry had to be airlifted to Kings. His lung had collapsed and there was a lack of oxygen to his brain causing it to swell. Despite every effort, nothing could be done to save him. The damage done was irreversible.

“I saw the story of a little girl who had been an organ donor on the wall in the hospital and it planted a seed, I can still picture her now. We had had a conversation as a family about organ donation but I’d completely forgotten.

“My husband reminded me, we were just chatting in the front room one day and talking about when me and Lee died and we mentioned organ donation, we’re on the register. The kids, Harry and his sister Jess, asked what it was, and we explained, they thought it was weird. I said 'Not really, once you’re dead and gone, you don’t need them and someone else can do all the things you’ve been able to do'.

“I remember Harry said, ‘I suppose you don’t need your bits when you’re dead.’

“That was only about a month before the accident, it was a quick conversation but it was so powerful. The organ donation staff were amazing, so lovely. We knew it was the right thing to do, Harry had the most amazing jam-packed 11 years of life, he was always doing something. If just a snippet of that could go to somebody else, I knew it would bring us some comfort.

“It was the toughest thing I have ever had to do but his donation makes me feel proud.”

Harry's family are proud that his organs have saved other people's lives (Image: Family handout)

Harry and other organ donors received the Order of St John award for organ donation, run in conjunction with NHS Blood and Transplant for a decade, which was given to their families and loved ones on their behalf at private award ceremonies in London in May and June 2023.

“I went to the Order of St John awards and felt really proud – I didn’t feel sad at that time – just proud,” said Maria.  

“His donation makes me smile. Other people have got a bit of him and I like to think a bit of his personality, so their families must be thinking, what is going on when they start knee sliding in the mud at every opportunity. And that makes me chuckle.”

• READ MORE: Organ donors honoured with award

Anthony Clarkson, director of organ and tissue donation and transplantation at NHS Blood and transplant, said: “Organ donors and their families are truly inspirational people. Every donor transforms the lives of people they don’t know and the pride their families rightly feel is incredibly powerful.

“Patients who have received a transplant tell us that organ donors and their families are their heroes. The Order of St John awards, which we are proud to have been running with the Order of St John for ten years, are a chance for us all to recognise organ donors and their amazing contribution to society.

“We hope these awards will inspire other people in East Sussex to decide they want to donate their organs and confirm their decision on the NHS organ donor register. Saving the lives of others is an amazing legacy to leave and donor families say donation is a source of pride that helps them in their grief.

“We want to ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to donate their organs and save lives. Please join the NHS organ donor register at www.organdonation.nhs.uk.”