Vale Ashley Cooper

[mrcowpoke]

Hello,

There is now a tributes page on Ashley Cooper's website, www.ashleycooper.com.au.

Alan Cooper (Ashley's dad) told me yesterday that the whole family has been touched by the number of people who have contacted them to pass on their sympathies and thoughts after Ashley's accident.

Whilst nothing will ease their pain, they have genuinely appreciated the support they have received from both the motorsport community, and the wider population.

Please feel free to pass your comments onto Ashley's family via his website. I can assure you they will be reading your messages over the coming weeks.


Michael Carscadden
Ashley Cooper Motorsport
m: 0401 888 719
e: news@capitalmotorsportnews.com.au

[mac]

This was the tragic news we had all feared may come since Saturday morning.

Just the most horrible, horrible news... no words can adequately express...

Sincerest condolences to all of those who knew him and loved him, and to all of those at the scene.

[retro]

My condolences to his wife, to his children and his family.

A very sad and tragic day for our sport.

[The General]

From the Adelaide Now website today:

THE family of the late V8 driver Ashley Cooper has saved the lives of seven seriously ill people by donating his organs.

The 27-year-old, who died on Monday afternoon after a weekend crash at the Clipsal 500, was a registered organ donor. A six-year-old received part of his liver. Others received his heart, lungs, kidneys and pancreas.
Part of Cooper's liver was sent interstate.

It is understood one operation was conducted yesterday at the Flinders Medical Centre, although hospitals do not confirm details for privacy reasons.

The lifesaving decision has been applauded by the David Hookes Foundation, race organisers and Health Minister John Hill.

Cooper's father, Alan, yesterday said his family had all supported the organ donation.

"We all believed that it would have been Ashley's wish for his organs to be donated," he said, " . . . so there was no decision to be made.

"We are going to miss one heck of a guy, one thorough gentleman, one man of the highest morals I'll ever know and it's just shattering for us all."

It is not known where the recipients of Cooper's organs live.

In Adelaide, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital performs kidney transplants while Flinders Medical Centre performs liver transplants.

Heart and lung transplant operations are not conducted in South Australia.

SA Motor Sport Board chief executive Andrew Daniels said the decision to donate Cooper's organs would have been an "incredibly personal" one for his family. "I think they hope that good will come out of it," he said.

"I think it is a wonderful, compassionate, loving thing for them to agree that Ashley's organs can be then used to save others.

"I am a registered organ donor and I would certainly encourage, urge others to do the same."

Cooper, who sustained extensive internal injuries and severe brain swelling, never regained consciousness after his Holden Commodore VZ smashed into a concrete barrier at the Clipsal 500 on Saturday morning.

At Cooper's bedside when he died were his father, mother Maree, partner Casey, brother Aaron and two sisters, Rebecca and Rachel.

An emotional Mr Cooper last night told Channel 10 he could not be more proud of his son.

He said the family cried when they learnt Ashley's organs would save others.

"I found out Ashley was in peak physical condition, the only injuries that he sustained were head injuries in the accident, that was to his brain, the rest of his body, because he was a sportsman and looked after himself, he was in peak condition and he was able to donate to seven people," he said.

"Finding out that one of those was a young child with only days to live (who) received part of his liver, saving that young child's life and allowing that young child to live a normal life for whatever time was just something very, very special to us."

Health Minister John Hill thanked the Cooper family for deciding to donate. "His decision to become an organ donor and his family's support for his wishes is just inspirational," he said.

Last year 27 South Australians donated organs to 75 people

[Chatters]

Congratulations to Ashley and the family. There are too few people donating their organs to people who need them in Australia. To the Cooper family if they read this, thank you for giving the gift of life to others in need.

[touringlegend]

Seven people... Ashley's family are right to be proud that he was an organ donor. I guess it must add a little bit of comfort for their loss.

[nickyf1]

what a sad, sad thing to happen, another talented young driver gone.

RIP Ashley

[Woolley]

Out of such sadness, that's a very inspiring report.

Condolences to all of Ashley's friends and family.

[pascofi m-sport]

Condolences to the Cooper family, Ashley was a talented driver who could have made it to the main game, now he will never get that chance. He had the speed, the talent, the potential, but now he may be gone, but his soul will forever shine.

Well done also, for choosing to be an organ donor. He did a very generous deed before his passing, many other drivers and fans should follow his lead.

RIP: Ashley Cooper

[Pro Racer]

it's great news that happiness and life for 7 other people and their families could come out of the saddnes and trajic death of Ashley.

[Gaz170]

It's a little bit of a silver lining over such a dark cloud that some good came out of this tragic incident.

RIP Ashley, taken way too soon. Condolences to his family & friends.

[bathurst]

R.I.P Ashley Cooper. Too Soon. Condolences to the Cooper family.

[275 GTB-4]

My condolences to the Cooper family, Ashley's friends and team members....

coincidently, I was reading about another Ashley Cooper this morning, who worked for Dunlop racing tyres about 30-40 years ago...I wonder if there is any family connection?