As game as they come

Kyle Southworth, 8, appears to be fearless.

Though the youngest South African participant in the World Transplant Games, he is at ease competing in long jumping, swimming and running on a global stage.

His parents say Kyle was born a fighter.

At seven weeks old he had to undergo an operation to establish whether his bile ducts were working and by nine months had been diagnosed with Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, an inherited disorder that causes lung and liver disease.

At 18 months, Kyle was the recipient of a liver from a British girl.

"We were very frightened when told he would need a liver transplant and that he might not get one in South Africa. Having had a British passport, I obtained a British passport for him and we moved to Britain so he could have a transplant," his mother, Merrick, said yesterday.

When his parents heard about the World Transplant Games through friends, they decided that Kyle should enter to meet other transplant recipients.

"It's almost hard to believe that he is part of these games, because, to all of us, he is just a normal little boy. We don't hide that he had a liver transplant. In fact, we have always told him about it and when he was younger we used to joke that his cut on his stomach was from a shark bite," Merrick said.

She tried to hold back the tears when Kyle joined other South Africans in the athletes' parade at the games opening ceremony on Monday in Durban.

"I am incredibly proud. I became very emotional seeing him walk with all those other people, who also got a second chance. I am told that there is a 30% increase in organ-donation registrations in the countries that have hosted these games. I hope South Africans realise how important it is to consider donating an organ," she said.

Durban kidney recipient Derrick Pillay invited 52 friends and family members to the opening ceremony.

"It really opened their eyes. My goal for these games is to really enjoy the days, show South Africa and the rest of the world what a difference organ donation can do for a person waiting for a transplant, and spread the message of organ donation.

"My participation in the games is dedicated to my donor and the donor family for their unselfish gesture to let a part of their loved one live on in me," he said.

Pillay and John Pareira da Silva won gold for South Africa on Tuesday in golf.

Pillay will compete in the individual golf competition today.

More than 55 countries are competing in the games, which end on Sunday.