A grandfather tragically killed with a single punch outside a Midlands pub has saved lives through organ donation. David Darke, 66, was celebrating his work Christmas dinner at the Crown Inn in Appleby Magna, Leicestershire, on 21 December last year when he was attacked. Nathan Gothard, 37, punched him once, cracking his skull. Mr Darke died six days later in hospital.
On Friday, Gothard was jailed for 10 years for manslaughter at Leicester Crown Court. It emerged that Mr Darke had intervened to stop Gothard harassing women and antagonising men in the group. His family shared that even in death, he continued to help others: his organs have given at least four people a chance of life.
In a statement after sentencing, Mr Darke’s family said: “Our family has finally seen the person responsible for Dave’s death sentenced. Although the sentence shows some accountability, no sentence will ever truly reflect what has been taken from us.
“Gothard was a braggart whose local pub Dave’s colleagues visited after their works Christmas meal. Dave’s only ‘crime’ that night was stepping in the way of a thug intent on harassing the women and antagonising the men in the group.
“Dave was a much-loved father, brother, grandfather, and friend. He was a strong, fit, hardworking man who lived honestly and treated people with respect. He was an accomplished craftsman who could turn his hand to anything, and there was very little he could not fix or build. He had always worked hard and was looking forward to retirement and enjoying the next chapter of life with his family.
“What makes this even harder to accept is that it was completely avoidable. If Gothard had simply gone home when he was told to, Dave would still be here today.
“Instead, we have had to endure the unimaginable. We watched Dave’s life support being turned off and then sat through a trial with every painful detail of his final hours repeated in court. No family should ever have to experience that.
“Dave continued to help others. Through organ donation, at least four people have been given a chance of life. That says everything about the kind of man he was — even in death, he gave to others.
“We would like to thank Senior Investigating Officer Kev Hames and his team at Leicestershire Police, our barrister, the staff at the QMC Hospital, and our wider family and friends for the support they have given us throughout this terrible time.
“Nothing will ever bring Dave back. Our family has been changed forever, and we will carry this loss for the rest of our lives.”
