Dead Olympic coach saves 4 lives with organ donations

German Olympic canoe slalom coach Stefan Henze died on Monday after a taxi accident, but because he was an organ donor, he has saved the lives of four people, Die Welt reported on Wednesday.

“Heart, liver and both kidneys have been successfully transplanted. Thus he has saved four lives,” a spokeswoman from the Brazilian health ministry told the conservative daily.

Henze’s family, who travelled to Rio after the accident, had given their consent to the transplants.

The 35-year-old trainer and former world champion had been taking a taxi in the early hours of Friday from the canoe slalom venue when the accident happened.

He later died in hospital due to serious head injuries.

All German flags at the Olympic venues were flown at half-mast on Tuesday in his honour.

“We are infinitely sad on this day,” said German Olympic Sports Confederation president Alfons Hörmann.

“Words cannot accurately describe what we as the Olympic team feel after this terrible loss.”

Henze, who came from Halle an der Salle in Sachsen-Anhalt, was himself a successful Olympian during his career, winning silver in the Athens games in 2004 with Marcus Becker. He was also crowned world champion in 2003 and European champion in 2008.