One life lost, 42 others helped

SINGAPORE - He lost his life in an accident but his body parts are sustaining the lives of 42 others.

Mr Anthony Peh, 41, who worked as a deliveryman, was driving on West Coast Road in the direction of Jalan Buroh on Nov 15 when his lorry broke down.

While he was in the stationary vehicle waiting for help, a trailer rammed into it from behind.

Mr Peh's 42-year-old sister, who wanted to be known as Madam Peh, told Chinese newspaper Shin Min Daily News that her brother suffered head injuries due to the force of being hurled forward.

She said: "He was conscious after the accident, and was taken by ambulance to the accident and emergency department at the National University Hospital, but lost consciousness later."

A scan later showed that both sides of his brain were affected by the impact, rendering him brain dead.

He was pronounced dead at about 7pm on Friday.

The New Paper on Sunday visited his wake on Saturday but Madam Peh declined to comment and asked for privacy for the family during this difficult time. Mr Peh is understood to be single.

According to the Chinese evening daily, doctors had informed his sister that under the Human Organ Transplant Act, Mr Peh's liver had to be harvested.

They also asked her and the family to consider donating other parts of his body, which could be used to save the lives of others.

After some discussion with her family, she acceded, hoping that something good could come out of this tragedy.

In addition to his liver, doctors harvested Mr Peh's cardiopulmonary valve, the skin on his back and thigh, as well as two leg bones.

She said: "The doctor told us that these could help 42 patients. The bones in his calf alone could help more than 30 people."

Madam Peh said the family was surprised at the large impact the donation was making.

Dr Desmond Wai, a gastroenterologist and hepatologist at Desmond Wai Liver & Gastrointestinal Diseases Centre at Gleneagles Medical Centre, explained that the donated bones can be separated into different parts for different bone graft surgeries.

Mr Peh's family is appealing for witnesses of the accident to step forward. They are hoping that police investigations will yield clarity about the accident, which will eventually lend closure.

Mr Peh's wake is at Block 453, Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4. The cortege will leave on Monday.

Police said the driver of the trailer, who is in his 40s, is assisting in investigations.

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