Grieving family's selfless final act of kindness as they donate son's organs

Thirteen-year-old Joshua has tragically lost his life after a terrible road incident earlier this month. Now, His family have paid a heartfelt tribute to the "beautiful kid who fought and fought."

Dominique Birouste

2 min read

October 18, 2023 - 5:03PM

Source: Daily Telegraph

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13-year-old Joshua Pike has lost his life after being hit by a delivery truck on his way home from school.

His family have paid a heartfelt tribute to the "beautiful kid who fought and fought."

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"Josh is a beautiful kid, who lived life to the fullest." Source: GoFundMe

A fateful afternoon

Last Wednesday, around 3:30 pm, a delivery truck tragically struck Joshua as he attempted to cross a road in Appin, a suburb 75 kilometres southeast of Sydney.

Shocking CCTV footage from a nearby house captured the accident's aftermath, showing Joshua sprawled on the road.

A battle for survival

Paramedics promptly arrived at the scene and treated Josh before airlifting him to the Children's Hospital in Westmead, where he was diagnosed with a fractured skull.

In a desperate bid for recovery, he was placed in an induced coma while family and friends clung to hope.

Josh with his mum, Leah. Source: Daily Telegraph

Strength and resilience

Family friend Jackie Austin described Josh's courageous fight by saying, "Josh fought his injuries with all the power and energy he could."

She shared that the teenager "spent the last week fighting his beautiful little heart out to beat the horrific injuries he sustained."

Sadly, his injuries were too severe, and Joshua passed away.

A grieving family

Funds raised through a GoFundMe campaign, currently at $43,665 of a $45,000 target, will now be directed toward charitable causes after covering Josh's funeral expenses.

"Josh would be absolutely loving the love he was receiving right now. All monies will be used accordingly for the funeral and other costs."

Calls for safety measures

This tragic incident has prompted local residents to call for increased safety measures along this dangerous road, which maintains a 50km/h speed limit but sees heavy traffic during peak hours.

Wollondilly MP Judith Hannan voiced her concerns, stating that the issue has persisted for decades, with little significant change over 20 years.

The safety of children crossing this road remains a pressing concern for the community.

"Anyone who not only knew him, but was lucky enough to have him in their life, it was an honour." Source: The Daily Telegraph

Investigation continues

Police interviewed the 38-year-old truck driver involved in the accident, who underwent mandatory testing but was subsequently released without charges.

A silver lining in the tragedy

Described as "a beautiful kid who lived life to the fullest," Josh's family honoured their late son's life by donating his organs.

In Australia, the availability of organ donors is remarkably scarce, says Donate Life.

To qualify, one must pass away in a hospital, typically within the specific settings of an Intensive Care Unit or Emergency Department, ensuring that the organs remain viable for transplantation.

Astonishingly, just two percent of hospital deaths in the country meet these stringent criteria.

In 2022, out of the 80,000 individuals who passed away in Australian hospitals, only 1,400 met the requirements for potential organ donation.

Approximately 1,800 Australians await transplants, with an additional 14,000 individuals on dialysis, some of whom may require kidney transplants.

Despite the unimaginable grief Josh's family and friends are feeling, their generosity in donating his organs will change the lives of so many.