THE legacy of a man who was hit by a car as he walked home will live on after his organs gave three strangers a new lease of life.

In the same week as Andrew Richardson’s family marked the first anniversary of his death, they were invited to celebrate his lifesaving efforts at a special ceremony.

The 23-year-old died two days after being struck in Victoria Avenue, Southend, after sustaining serious brain damage.

His family made the decision to donate his organs, with mum Karen Richardson, 51, picking up an award in his honour.

She said: “He was nearly home, he didn’t have long to go and he was hit by a car.

“Noone is perfect but he was a bubbly, outgoing person who always tried to help his family and friends.

“Although Andrew hadn’t signed up to be a donor, we remembered at some point while watching TV he had joked that it would be funny to have part of your body in other people.

“When in the situation, we knew he would have liked to help other people.

“He would have liked the thought of his liver and kidney in someone else, he would have joked about whether they had got his tastes.

“We knew we had lost Andrew but ended up helping three other people. Andrew would have been proud, he died a hero.

“It helped us knowing that these people are still alive because of Andrew.”

Mrs Richardson, of Glenhurst Road, Southend, told how one recipient even wrote to the family to thank them for donating Andrew’s organs.

He was one of 35 people honoured with the Order of St John Award for Organ Donation at the London ceremony.

With regional events taking place across in the country, in conjunction with NHS Blood and Transplant, a total of 1,364 people will be recognised.

Mrs Richardson added: “The ceremony was very moving. We have only just had the first anniversary of his death and knowing everyone in the room was in the same situation helped. It was lovely.

“It is a hard decision for anyone to make when you are put in that situation, but we knew he would have wanted to be a donor. At least our situation helped other people.”

Noone was prosecuted over the crash, which took place on October 15 last year.

There are still around 6,500 people on the UK transplant waiting list, with around three people in need of an organ dying every day.

To register to become a donor, visit organdonation.nhs.uk