'It's comforting to know part of Adi is out there'

A father who was murdered outside a Boston pub has saved the lives of five people after his family agreed to donate his organs.

Adi Whiting, 35, was attacked by Maksim Iliev, 36, who was armed with a baseball bat, outside the Carpenters Arms on 14 January.

Mr Whiting's family gave permission for his lungs, heart, liver and kidneys to be used to save lives. His pancreas and brain were also used to support life-saving research, doctors said.

His mother, Debbie Paul, said: “I find it comforting to know that part of Adi is out there, and I am so pleased that five people have benefited and have got the chance to have a decent life."

Mr Whiting died in hospital from his injuries 10 days after the attack.

Iliev, 36, of Union Street, Boston, was found guilty of murder following a trial at Lincoln Crown Court.

Jurors also found Katya Tsoneva, 34, of Red Lion Street, Boston, guilty of assisting an offender.

Ms Paul said: “When we were told there was only a very small chance that Adi might pull through I remember saying to the doctor that he would want to donate his organs.

"It was not a hard decision for us to make, in fact I feel it was a very good one, because we knew what Adi wanted.”

Paying tribute to her son, Ms Paul said: "Everyone knew him or recognised him. He had his hair in a Mohican which changed colour every week. He was a lovable rogue; a character right from leaving school.”

Details about how Mr Whiting had helped others after his death emerged as Boston, Grantham and Lincoln hospitals are illuminated pink each evening to mark Organ Donation Week.

According to NHS Blood and Transplant, more people than ever before are in need of a transplant across the UK. At the end of July, more than 7,600 people were on the active waiting list, including 94 in Lincolnshire.

Consultant Dr Gary Wilbourn, the clinical lead for organ donation at Lincoln County Hospital, said it is a "great privilege" to provide care and support at such a "difficult and devastating time".

He said it was important for those wishing to donate their organs to confirm their decisions on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

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