A tree planting ceremony and the unveiling of a plaque in memory of the late Juan Jesus Vecino, 48, took place yesterday at the St Bernard’s Hospital garden.

Juan Jesus died unexpectedly in January 2026 following a fatal cardiac arrest. Following discussions with GHA intensivists, his family made the decision to donate his vital organs to patients in the UK awaiting transplants on the NHS transplant list.

The donation marked the first ever organ donation carried out by the GHA.

Following the family’s decision, the NHS Organ and Transplant team travelled to Gibraltar to undertake the necessary medical and administrative assessments ahead of the organ retrieval. The donated organs were subsequently transported under blue-light conditions to Gibraltar International Airport before being flown to the UK and taken directly to hospitals where recipients were awaiting transplants.

Juan Jesus’ sister, Maria Vecino Ramos, said the family had agreed to organ donation because of the many people waiting for a transplant. She said they hoped that, despite the tragedy of his death, something positive could come from it by allowing his organs to save lives and give others a second chance.

During his lifetime, Juan Jesus had also expressed his support for organ donation in conversations with family and friends.

Maria expressed her appreciation and gratitude to the GHA and NHS medical, ambulance and clerical staff for their hard work, as well as for the emotional support, kindness and care shown to the family throughout their difficult period of grieving.

Maria Vecino Ramos said: “Juan Jesus had a 12-year-old son, my nephew, and the tree growing in the hospital garden in memory of his father will remain as the symbol of his gesture, and as the boy grows up it will serve as a reminder, something for him to always feel proud of what his father did.”

GHA Director General, Dr Paul Bosio said: “The untimely death of Juan Jesus Vecino who at 48 was still a relatively young man, was a very tough and sad time for Maria and the rest of her family, but the generous act of donating his organs means that someone else can keep on living, and that is an extraordinary outcome.”

Minister for Health, The Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez said: “The death of a young man is always sad for all those who are affected by the loss. I want to thank Juan Jesus and his family, for their beautiful gesture of donating his organs so that some other person can continue living and regain their health. This generosity can only be described as exceptional.”