A CUHK student who made headlines when his search for a heart donor went viral on social media earlier this year has tragically died.
Ma Cheuk-long, 20, died from multiple organ failure last night, Apple Daily reports.
The second-year anthropology student, was first admitted to hospital in late April with a fever, stomach pain, vomiting and low blood pressure.
As his condition deteriorated, he was diagnosed with acute myocarditis – an inflammation of the heart muscle – and relied on an artificial heart and lung machine to stay alive.
Ma’s case gained widespread attention after his girlfriend Leung Yan-yin made a heartfelt appeal for organ donors on Facebook, which was shared widely.
On Father’s Day, Ma underwent transplant surgery when a suitable heart became available. At the time, Ma’s father called it the “most precious Father’s Day gift he could receive”.
Despite briefly appearing to be on the mend, the 20-year-old developed another infection in July and was unable to recover.
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