An inquest in Tralee, Co Kerry, heard yesterday how a Christmas party ended with a man falling and receiving extensive brain injuries after hitting his head off a pavement.
The dead man's family were praised by the coroner and a Garda inspector for agreeing to organ donation after the "exceptionally" healthy man died on December 21st, 2003.
Mr Daniel Daly (43), from Clashathlea, Ballymacelligott, had been out with friends on December 19th for dinner in Tralee and had gone to a local pub for a drink afterwards.
Outside the pub, some of the men jokingly decided to have a race. However, Mr Daly tripped while running and fell backwards "head first".
People qualified in first aid were among the party and they went to his assistance. Mr Daly was taken by ambulance unconscious to hospital where brain stem death was pronounced.
Doctors at Tralee requested his organs be donated and the family agreed. Mr Daly's heart, right lung, liver and both kidneys and part of his spleen were donated.
The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical and other evidence of massive brain injury due to a pavement fall.
Coroner Ms Helen Lucey said it was a very tragic end to a Christmas party where everyone had been in high spirits.
Garda Insp Martin McCarthy said the family decision was very courageous at such a traumatic time.
"In the ending of that life, you have given others an opportunity to live."