Many social media users say the donation of Humboldt Broncos player Logan Boulet’s organs has not only potentially saved lives, but inspired them to have the conversation with loved ones and become donors themselves.

And one Twitter user called Boulet a hero, noting one of his kidneys went to her aunt.

Distroscale

“This man is a hero in our family,” posted Brittany B. “Thank you to Logan Boulet and his family for the gift of organ donation. He is my aunties (sic) angel. Last night she had a successful kidney transplant. So much gratitude.”

Boulet, a 21-year-old defenceman from Lethbridge, was among the 15 people killed in a horrific crash involving the junior hockey team in Saskatchewan. Fourteen others were injured when the team’s bus and a transport truck collided Friday in a tragedy that has reverberated around the world.

Boulet’s cousin Julie Kindt said on Facebook that Boulet had been on life support until his organs could be donated.

Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

His godfather posted a statement on behalf of the family saying a surgical team from Alberta travelled to a Saskatoon hospital to conduct organ transplant procedures early Sunday morning. Neil Langevin said six people were set to receive the “gift of life” from Boulet, and his other organs would be donated to science.

“Logan had made it known, and very clear to his family, that he had signed his organ donor card when he turned 21 just a few weeks ago,” Langevin said in a Facebook post that had been shared more than 1,700 times as of Monday morning. “These actions alone give voice to the selfless and benevolent nature Logan possessed in life for others.”

Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

About 4,600 people across Canada are on a waiting list for a life-saving organ transplant, according to Joyce Van Deurzen, executive director of the Kidney Foundation of Canada’s Saskatchewan and southern Alberta branches.

“There’s no doubt that the need is far greater than the number of organs available for transplant, so every donor, every organ is so precious,” Van Deurzen said. “This young man has saved the lives of many people so hopefully his family can take some measure of comfort in that. They really are granting his last wish by deciding to donate his organs in agreement with his wishes.”

Since the weekend, there’s been a “significant increase” in the number of people who have registered to become organ or tissue donors in the province, according to a spokesman for Alberta Health Minister Sarah Hoffman.

Close to 900 people registered on Sunday and Monday, compared to an average of 425 registrations that typically occur on a typical Sunday/Monday registration period.

A total of 462,861 people are currently registered across the province. The government said in a statement that each donor can potentially save up to eight lives through organ donation, or help as many as 75 people through tissue donation.

More than 3,000 lives in Alberta have been saved through organ donation in the past decade, it stated. Since the province launched the Alberta Organ and Tissue Donation Registry in 2014, about 10 per cent of Albertans have registered to become organ and tissue donors.

Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Boulet’s final act of generosity has been met with an outpouring of support on social media.

“Never thought a junior hockey player in Saskatchewan named Logan Boulet would motivate me to finally become an organ donor,” Jeff Vallance, of southern Alberta, posted on Twitter. “He saved 6 lives. Took 4 minutes. You can do it as well.”

Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Ontario’s organ donation agency says it saw online registrations nearly triple Sunday compared to two weeks prior.

“Logan Boulet, you inspired me. I became an organ donor today,” posted Ottawa mom Julie Cote.

Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

With files from The Canadian Press