A young athlete’s organs will give others a second chance at life

Naomi Vincent, who was declared brain dead after the accident. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

At 23, Naomi Vincent has just entered a new phase of life. Up-and-coming player Kho Kho, an aspiring actor and graduate student in psychology at St. Thomas College, Thrissur, was traveling to Thiruvananthapuram for her first job when tragedy struck. Four days later, doctors declared her brain dead on Sunday.

Now, even as her family copes with an unimaginable loss, Naomi’s life will continue through others. Her family has agreed to donate her organs, offering hope to patients waiting for a transplant.

The organ procurement process is under the supervision of Youth Affairs and Sports Minister OJ Janeesh and Culture Minister PC Vishnunadha, officials said.

Naomi sustained serious injuries in a collision between the car she was traveling in and a parcel truck at Valakom, near Kottarakara, in the early hours of June 25. She was first admitted to a private hospital in Kottarakara before being shifted to KIMS Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, where doctors declared her brain dead on Sunday morning.

Mother, brother injured

She was traveling with her mother Gypsy and brother Joel to Thiruvananthapuram for her new job when the accident happened around 4 am. Her mother and brother, who were also injured, are undergoing treatment at Ashwini Hospital in Thrissur.

Friends and teachers remember Naomi as much for her infectious enthusiasm as for her achievements. She represented her district in Kho Kho, actively participated in cultural programs at St. Thomas College and also acted in the movie Kho Kho.

Her death cast a shadow of grief over her hometown of Pullanikkad near Wadakkanchera and the university community that watched her grow into a confident young woman with dreams of building a career in psychology. Naomi is survived by her father, Vincent, a driver; Gypsy, the gym trainer; Sister Angel, a teacher in Ernakulam; and Joel, a student at St. Thomas College.

While her own journey was cut short, her family hopes that through organ donation, Naomi’s legacy will live on in the lives she saves.

Published – 28 Jun 2026 20:52 IST