Enlarge image
Fans at the semi-finals England - Denmark at Wembley Stadium
Photo:
Andy Rain / dpa
"Hero", "Man of the Hour", "Lifesaver": A young Brit named Sam Astley is celebrated on social networks for having handed in his ticket for the semi-final of the European Championship to donate life-saving stem cells instead.
Astley's girlfriend had won the tickets for the semi-finals England versus Denmark at London's Wembley Stadium in a competition, as reported by several media, including the BBC.
But since he was eligible as a donor for a blood cancer patient, he waived and instead watched the game from the hospital bed.
The couple passed the tickets on to relatives.
"No soccer game is more important than saving someone's life"
After the local newspaper "Stourbridge News" reported about it, the story was spread in the online media and a call was launched to get the 24-year-old tickets for the final.
This action also received prominent support.
"Fantastic.
Can you help the FA and England? ”Commented former English soccer star and now BBC soccer commentator Gary Lineker.
FA is the English football association.
The reaction came relatively promptly: "We saw that and would like to help Sam go to the finals on Sunday," tweeted the smartphone manufacturer and EM sponsor Vivo Europe.
The decision against the stadium visit was not a difficult one, said Astley the broadcaster "Sky News".
"No soccer game is more important than saving someone's life."
The support of Lineker and the other people is "crazy".
As reported by the BBC, Astley's bone marrow was taken with stem cells from his hip bones.
Astley shared a picture of himself on Twitter on Thursday.
It shows him in a hospital bed.
He also thanked Lineker and others for "all the wonderful news."
The operation went well and he is now recovering.
In the semifinals, the English team narrowly defeated the Danes in front of around 60,000 spectators.
Due to the rampant delta variant of the corona virus, these crowds also cause criticism.
In the final on Sunday, England will play against Italy for the European championship title.
bbr / AFP