Hero: Teacher Ray Coe (right) gave a kidney to Alya Ahmed Ali (Picture: Archant)

A selfless teacher who saved the life of a seriously ill pupil by donating one of his kidneys has been hailed as a hero.

Ray Coe said he knew it was ‘the right thing to do’ after being told Alya Ahmed Ali, 13, was undergoing kidney dialysis and needed a life-saving transplant.

The 53-year-old is a special educational needs coordinator at the Royal Docks Community School in Custom House, east London, where Alya is a pupil.

She suffers from a condition called hydrocephalus, a build-up of fluid in the brain, which has resulted in her having severe learning difficulties.


‘When we told Alya, she just gave me a big squeeze and her face lit up. It brings tears to my eyes whenever I think of that,’ he told the Newham Recorder.



‘For her parents, it’s not words that can express their gratitude. For them I have saved their daughter’s life. It’s like I am another family member now.’

The pair underwent a successful kidney transplant at Great Ormond Street Hospital in February and are both set to return to school after the Easter break.

Her father, Ahmed Ali, called Mr Coe a hero, adding he was ‘an amazing man’.