South Tyneside families who campaigned for organ donor change welcome news that opt-out system will be introduced from May

Susan Clarkson and Alfie Leggett who lost their son, Jack Leggett in 2013, have welcomed the news.

The Health Secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed that England's 56 million population will automatically be considered as organ donors from May 20, unless they choose to opt out.

It is estimated that the opt-out method, known as Max and Keira's law, will lead to an additional 700 transplants each year by 2023.

If Parliament approves the date, all adults in England will be considered to have agreed to donate their own organs when they die - unless they explicitly state otherwise or are in an excluded group.

Jack Leggett died of a brain tumour aged 9.

Ministers said the change, brought about through last year's Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Act, would be a significant step towards helping the 5,200 people in England who are on waiting lists for life-saving or life-enhancing transplants.

Now South Tyneside families who campaigned to see the law introduced after losing their own loved ones, have reacted to the news.

Alfie Leggett donated his nine-year-old son Jack’s organs when he died of a brain tumour after a short battle in 2013.

Alfie, 52, said he was “delighted” but that it felt “bittersweet”.

Gillian Lyon's family donated her organs after she died in 2012.

“It’s only right that it has finally come to fruition, it’s just a pity that it couldn’t have happened years ago, it might have saved a few more lives,” he said.

“I know myself how difficult the decision it, but it’s saving somebody’s life. Anyone you speak to who has donated their loved ones organs has never regretted it.

“You can never bring your loved one back but you could save someone else’s.

“It’s a second chance and that’s the greatest gift you can give.”

Sharon Eckert hands over her petition to Downing Street.

Gillian Lyon, 42, died in 2012 after suffering a bleed on the brain.

Her family donated her organs, but in a cruel twist of fate, just two years later her own mum Sandra Burn was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease.

“I was absolutely devastated when they told me, it was only two years since I donated my daughter’s kidneys,” said Sandra, 68.

“You never know when you might need it, you never know what’s round the corner.

“This is a long-time coming and it’s a nice surprise on what would have been the year of Gillian’s 50th birthday.

She added: “I want to thank Lisa Nightingale (former Gazette reporter) and her friends for all the work they did campaigning.”

Miley Turbitt was only 14-weeks-old when she lost her fight in November 2012, as she waited for a donor heart to be found.

Following her death, her mum Sharon Eckert, launched the Shields Gazette-backed In Miley’s Memory campaign.

Her fight led to more than 2,500 people in South Tyneside signing up to the donor register and a petition calling for England to adopt the opt-out system being handed into Downing Street.

Sharon has welcomed today’s news, she commented: “I think it’s great that this has taken effect, it will save a lot of lives and prevent heartache for people. It can’t come soon enough.”