Kidney Recipient Dies While Participating in World Transplant Games

A British kidney transplant recipient competing in the World Transplant Games in the French city of Nancy died after suffering a heart attack while playing in the badminton competition.

It was the first such death since the Transplant Games were started in 1978.

Doctors from the French and German teams, backed up by rescue workers, were unable to revive Alan Ayre, who had won a gold medal at the last World Transplant Games in Kobe, Japan, two years ago.

Officials ordered the games, which end Sunday, to continue as "the best homage we can pay" to Ayre, according to a statement from the organizing committee.

Some 1,500 athletes from 55 countries are taking part in the 14th international transplant games, an event that focuses on the return to healthy lives of transplant recipients and the global need for more organ donors.

Other Sources: British media