Parents hear their dead son's heart beating for the first time in donor's chest

The family of an American man who agreed to donate his organs if he died have heard his heart beating inside the chest of the man who the donation saved.

Tom Meeks, 61, spent three years waiting for a heart transplant after being diagnosed with amyloidosis, a rare form of heart disease.

The Vietnam War veteran was told by doctors he wouldn't survive without a transplant, but was rejected five times by different hospitals as he tried to get on a waiting list.

While he waited, his liver started malfunctioning.

After finally being accepted by a clinic and moving to Rochester, Minnesota in November last year with his wife Ann, the wait only continued.

In March this year the call they had been hoping for arrived.

At the same time, the Heisler family got a call no family wants.

It came at 4am on a Sunday.

"I was sitting on the steps and I heard my dad say, 'Are you sure it's Matt?' Casey Heisler said.

"I thought I was dreaming."

Matthew Heisler, 21, a student at the University of North Dakota, had been involved in a house fire.

His friend and roommate, Ryan Nelson, had pulled him from the burning home and performed CPR until help arrived, but it was too late.

Mr Heisler had signed up to be an organ donor when he was 16.

"He made the decision that if life ever slipped away from him, he would give life to someone else," his father Jared said.

Eight months after his death, Mr Heisler's parents and younger sister, Casey, listened to his heart beat inside of Mr Meek's chest.

"This is awesome," Jared Heisler said after he listened.

His decision to donate his organs ultimately helped 60 people.

A 46-year-old woman received one of Matt's kidneys.

The other went to a 56-year-old woman.

The life of a 61-year-old man was saved by Matt's gift of a liver.

Around 1,500 people are on Australian organ transplant waiting lists at any one time, according to DonateLife.

To register as an organ donor, visit DonateLife.

Source: KARE 11