Teen Declared Dead After Accident Starts Blinking, Moving Limbs Before Organ Donation

A teenager, who was declared dead after being admitted to a hospital following a road accident, began breathing hours before his life support was set to be switched off.

Lewis Roberts, 18, was involved in a horrible crash in England. The teenager was hit by a van while he was walking on the road on Broad Street in Leek on March 13, Stoke on Trent Live reported.

After Lewis stopped responding to treatment, doctors certified him dead, following which his family agreed to donate his organs. However, just hours before the process began, Lewis started breathing and even blinked.

"On March 13, Lewis suffered catastrophic head injuries when he was struck by a van in his hometown of Leek and was flown to hospital where he underwent emergency surgery," Chloe Roberts, a family member who organized a fund-raiser on GoFundMe for the victim, said. "Four days later, the doctors broke the news to our family that nothing more could be done as he had unfortunately suffered a 'brain stem death' and sadly passed away."

"After saying our goodbyes to Lewis, close family bravely agreed for his organs to be donated to help the lives of seven other people. This bought Lewis extra time before his life support machine was turned off. Just hours before Lewis' surgery, he began to breathe again on his own. A miracle any family could wish for after being told he had zero chance of pulling through."

Chloe told Stoke on Trent Live that Lewis started to react to pain tests and also moved his limbs on his own. He also started to move his head from side to side.

"Many people have asked to send money for a pint for Lewis. Any money that is sent will be for Lewis when he is home and back on his feet. We would just like to say, as a family, thank you so much and we are very grateful for everyone's prayers and best wishes for Lewis," Chloe said.

Lewis' sister Jade Roberts, 28, added: "Thank you so, so much to every single one of you who has donated. Lewis will be chuffed to bits. We cannot wait for him to wake up and see it."

Staffordshire Police said they were investigating the incident.