Figures revealed by the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) have shown that the number of people who gave one of their organs to a complete stranger almost trebled last year.

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The watchdog said that 104 donors gave organs to someone else; one donating part of their liver and 103 donating one of their kidneys.  The HTS assesses all proposed transplants to ensure donors have not been put under any pressure or been offered a financial incentive.  More than 100,000 people are currently on the waiting list for organ donation and three people die every day because of the shortage.

Diane Warwick, HTA chairperson, said: “Giving someone an organ is a brave and amazing gift; to do it for someone whom you don’t know is doubly so, and the huge increase in people willing to do so is incredible.”