North St Marys: Organ donor Leeam Schloeffel, 20, helps 17 people after fatal motorbike crash

A touching letter has revealed a family’s gratitude after the act of a 20-year-old who died in a motorbike crash has helped save a baby’s life.

Leeam Schloeffel, pictured here aged 19, died in August 2024. He helped 17 people, including a little girl, when he donated his organs. Picture: supplied

The family of 20-year-old crash victim Leeam Schloeffel have ensured their beloved little brother has a long lasting legacy after donating his organs to help almost 20 people, including a baby.

Mr Schloeffel was killed when the motorbike he was a passenger on collided with a car on Kurrajong Rd, North St Marys on August 26, 2024.

He was not wearing a helmet, and died in hospital two days later on August 28.

No charges have been laid in relation to his death.

Older sister Peta Schloeffel told this masthead she was determined to give her little brother a lasting legacy by donating his organs.

Leeam Schloeffel (left) with (L-R) sister Peta, cousin Jacob, and brother-in-law Luke. Picture: supplied

Mr Schloeffel donated both lungs, and both kidneys, his heart, liver and both of his eyes, which went on to help 17 people including a baby.

Parts of his eyes were donated to ten different people, which Ms Schloeffel said was very ironic given her brother never liked his eyes.

“He had a lazy eye, so he always hated his eyes,” she said.

“For him to help ten people with his lazy eyes … it’s amazing.”

She said she and her family were shocked when they heard the number of people Mr Schloeffel had helped.

One third of Leeam Schloeffel's donated liver went to a baby girl, which saved her life. The girl's family wrote a heartfelt card thanking their family for saving their daughter. Picture: supplied

“When you hear about organ donation you hear about three, five, seven (people being helped); you don’t hear seventeen,” she said.

She said her brother, being so young and not having any children, did not have a legacy; which drove their decision to donate his organs and ensure he was remembered.

“My poor brother had no legacy, so I wanted him to be a legend,” she said.

Ms Schloeffel described her brother as “the biggest, caring goofball you would ever meet” and “the best little brother”.

The family celebrated Leeam's posthumous 21st at the Panthers Penrith Rugby Leagues Club, where the staff graciously allowed the family to get a photo of Leeam's ashes with the premiership trophies. Picture: Supplied

“He pretty much loved everyone (and) everyone loved him,” she said.

“He had the best, worst sense of humour … he would give the shirt off his back … he was just awesome.”

She said he was working as a scaffolder and had just returned to his home suburb from Grafton while looking to buy a house.

It has now been almost six months since the tragedy, but a public memorial at the site has continued to grow.

Ms Schloeffel called the site “beautiful”.

“To us, it’s this big acknowledgment of how much he meant to everyone else, not just us,” she said.

“Everyone did love him, you can just tell, and you don’t realise that until the person is actually gone.”

The memorial site where Mr Schloeffel died has continued to grow, even six months on. Picture: supplied

The family have started a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for a plot to lay his ashes, which will be next to their late father.

They also plan to work with Penrith City Council to have a memorial chair installed at the site.