Thailand Tragedy Ends in Miracles
Young Israeli Dies in Thailand Crash, Donates Organs to Four Desperate Patients
After suffering fatal injuries in a Thailand road accident, Yuval Cohen was flown back to Israel in a state of brain death so his organs could be donated, ultimately saving the lives of four people awaiting transplants.
Yuval Cohen, an Israeli traveler severely injured in a road accident in northern Thailand, has passed away after being declared brain-dead, with his family honoring his wish to donate his organs and enable life-saving transplants for four patients in Israel. The incident occurred last Saturday in Chiang Mai when a minibus carrying Israeli tourists crashed, leaving Cohen critically wounded and five others with varying limb injuries. PassportCard's emergency center received the initial report of the serious collision involving the group of travelers.
Cohen was airlifted back to Israel in a state of brain death specifically to facilitate organ donation under Israeli medical protocols. Upon arrival at Beilinson Hospital, rigorous examinations confirmed brain-stem death according to legal standards, allowing the donation process to proceed. His heart was successfully transplanted into a 67-year-old man at Sheba Medical Center, his liver went to a 62-year-old woman at Beilinson, one kidney was given to a 17-year-old boy at Schneider Children's Medical Center, and the second kidney was transplanted at Hadassah Medical Center.
In a statement released on behalf of the family, they expressed profound sorrow mixed with pride in Yuval's final decision. "Yuval will be immortalized in our hearts as someone whose last choice was to extend a hand and save others," the family said. The selfless act reflects Cohen's commitment to helping others even in the face of tragedy, providing renewed hope and extended life to recipients who had been waiting for compatible organs amid Israel's ongoing shortage of donors.
Road accidents remain a leading cause of death and severe injury for travelers in Thailand, particularly in northern regions where winding mountain roads and heavy tourist traffic increase risks. Cohen's case highlights the critical importance of organ donation registration and family consent in turning personal loss into collective salvation. The successful transplants, performed across multiple leading Israeli medical centers, demonstrate the efficiency of the national organ allocation system managed by the Israel Transplant Center. As the family prepares to mourn Yuval, they take comfort in knowing his generosity has given four individuals a second chance at life, turning an unimaginable tragedy into a lasting legacy of compassion and humanity.