His dying wish was that he would be able to donate his organs to help save lives.
But now a heartbroken family have spoken of how their beloved father could not fulfil his dream.
Relatives of Clive Wyard, from Ipswich, have also put out a fresh appeal for witnesses to discover what happened to him.
The 74-year-old was found lying outside his home on Valley Road near the Westerfield roundabout, up to seven hours after a fall and suspected assault last week. The retired dock worker left the Royal George pub in Ipswich, where he had been playing his weekly darts game, between 11.30pm on Thursday, July 19, and 12.20am the next day. He was found by passers-by just after 7am.
Relatives originally thought Mr Wyard had broken his nose – but he hadn’t, and instead suffered a split cleft lip, black eye and cuts to his face and head among other injuries. Tests also confirmed Mr Wyard – who was put in a drug-induced coma – had suffered significant brain damage. His children have said he will not recover. His daughter Jo Wyard added: “Words cannot begin to describe the devastation we are feeling. He was fit and healthy.
“Our dad had never been ill or in hospital in his life.”
Mr Wyard’s children later discovered he had registered to donate his organs – which would have saved three people’s lives, as well as the sight of 10 others.
Relatives were keen to fulfil Mr Wyard’s final wish. But now his family have explained why he was unable to donate his organs.
Ms Wyard said: “There is a time frame for being able to donate organs, so when the first hour passed after the oxygen tubes were removed, his liver was no longer viable to donate.
“Two hours later his heartbeat and blood pressure remained strong, therefore sadly his kidneys were also no longer viable to donate. Dad’s heart beat strongly throughout. It’s because he is so fit. The doctor said he is such a fit and healthy man, if it wasn’t for the trauma to his brain, he would survive. But it does not surprise me, he has always had the biggest heart, filled with such overflowing love for all, so how could his heart be anything other than strong.”
She added: “The hospital have been amazing. We’ve called them ‘Clive’s angels’, they have gone above and beyond to help us.”
Ms Wyard said the family would like to encourage others to consider donating their organs.
“If he could have done, he would,” Ms Wyard said of her father’s wish. “We want to raise awareness and gently encourage people to begin those difficult conversations.”
To help, call Ipswich CID on 101.
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