THE FAMILY of an expat, who was popular in the Didim darts community, has agreed to donate five of his organs to patients in need following his death from a brain haemorrhage, according to the Hurriey newspaper.

Mr Rolf Wilkinson, aged 55, died last weekend at Soke Fehime Faik Bigeye State Hospital after he collapsed on June 8 while working in his garden at his property near Kusadasi.

Doctors approached Mr Wilkinson’s family, his wife Jan and daughters Sharni and Zoey, for the possibility of organ donation and they readily agreed.

Mr Wilkinson’s liver, kidneys and corneas were transferred to patients in Izmir and Denizli. His liver was transplanted into a patient in Izmir, while one of his kidneys was donated to a patient at Izmir’s Shifa Hospital.

His other kidney was transferred to a patient in Denizli and his corneas were transferred for patients at Ege University Hospital.

Hurriyet Newspaper reported that a celebration of his life was held at Emyr Beach Club, in Kusadasi. It was attended by a large part of the Kusadasi expat community.

As part of his last will and testament, his life story was re-told in a humorous way.

The newspaper said Mr Wilkinson, who was a prominent member of the darts community in Kusadasi, was laid to rest in Davutlar along with his darts membership card.

Hurriyet reported his wife saying: “I’m going to spend the remaining years of my life in Turkey. I am proud to be his wife and that he was a source of life to five people.” Mr Wilkinson is also understood to have undertaken voluntary work with the disabled in Kusadasi.

Chaz Howell, of the Didim darts community, said Mr Wilkinson had helped a number of darts team in the resort and was instrumental in trying to organize a joint tournament for the Didim and Kusadasi darts communities.

Mr Howell said: “Everyone has been saddened by his death and the darts community on the Aegean has lost a leading light.

“The darts community in Didim would like to pass on their condolences to his family at this sad time.”