Crash tragedy dad tells of organ donor pride, United Kingdom

Nov 18 2010 by Mike Morgan, Evening Gazette

BRAVE dad Ian Richardson, who lost his wife and daughter in a horrific head-on smash, said Gazette coverage of his tragic story means potentially 900 more lives can now be saved via new organ donors.

Ian, 37, of Blake Close, Billingham, lost wife Joanne, 40, and six-year-old daughter Mya in the tragedy in August. Their black Jaguar was hit by another Jaguar travelling the wrong way down the A1 near Newcastle.

Mya’s organs were donated to give the gift of life to six people.

And Ian’s special memorial website has encouraged 300 people to join the NHS Organ Donation Register.

Since the Gazette broke the story, he said another 100 people have come forward to join the register and hits on his website have rocketed 1,100%.

With his main aim now to encourage as many organ donors as possible, he said: “I read the article with pride - and it was widely taken up by national TV and radio.

“As the organ register says each person can potentially save nine lives, we’ve got 400 for them now, which means 3,600 lives can potentially be saved.”

As reported, the other driver involved, a 61-year-old man from Blyth, who was arrested and questioned by police on suspicion of dangerous driving, has now died from a brain tumour. Ian said he did not feel robbed of justice. “My first thought was for his family,” he said.

Ian, who suffered smashed ribs and whiplash, is now a full-time parent to baby daughter Ava, who amazingly escaped without injury in the crash when she was just 10 weeks old. He said: “She’s my miracle, the way she survived the accident in her crumpled baby seat, showered with glass.”

He also explained with tender pride the way Mya used to leave little “love notes” around the house for him, Joanne and Ava.

He has had an exact copy of one tattooed on his forearm. It reads (with her misspelling): “To Daddy, I love you more then enything. Lots ov love Mya X X.”

Ian said: “Mya was such a loving child. Very caring - she was a chip off the old block. Joanne was a fantastic caring mum and wife.”

Severely traumatised by the crash, Ian has only just got behind the wheel of a car again - under the guidance of expert George Barnett.

Ian, who runs a marketing communications agency in Hartlepool, says the lasting legacy of his wife and daughter has been highlighted by website www.joandmya.co.uk in their memory.

Details of organ donation are included, plus a fundraising plea to ensure their memory lives on.