Giving hope to others

IN the 17 years since the death of her teenage son, Marian Down has never once regretted donating some of his organs.

Scott Fletcher was just 19 when he was involved in a car accident in Bognor on December 23, 1990.

A star member of Littlehampton Musical Comedy Society, Scott was taken to St Richard's Hospital in Chichester and put on a life-support machine, but the head injuries he suffered were so massive there was no chance of him surviving.

The news of the accident was broken to Mrs Down, 57, by police officers who arrived at her home, which was in Littlehampton at the time, at around 11pm.

Mrs Down, who owns Marian Down funeral directors in Lyndhurst Road, Worthing, and her family were taken to the hospital to see Scott and were told by doctors there was no chance of him recovering.

"His injuries were to the back of his head so his face looked perfect. He looked like he was asleep."

No regrets

It was Mrs Down who approached doctors and said she would like to donate Scott's organs.