A dad-of-two, who died unexpectedly, has been posthumously honoured at an award ceremony after his organs were donated.

Steve Rogers died in February, aged 56, after suffering a blood clot in his brain.

His wife Julie, 53, collected an Order of St John award in his honour at St John Ambulance’s Dorchester building, along with their daughter Laura, 25, and son Daniel, 28.

Julie, who lives in Weymouth, said: “I’m happy Steve has been recognised. He made ultimate sacrifice in his death. He has given hope to others.”

Keen biker Steve, who worked as a mechanic, had signed the organ donor register before his death.

Julie, a nurse, said: “It was a normal day and we’d been out for a carvery with our friends. We got back and I went up to bed and thought ‘where is he?’ He’d collapsed in the bathroom.

“He was in intensive care for four days. They knew it was a brain injury of some kind but then they told us it was a clot on his brain stem. As a nurse, I knew as I soon as they said that there was nothing they could do.

“Steve was already on the donation register and we had spoken about it before. I spoke to him about it on the last night he was in intensive care and I knew it’s what he would have wanted.”

Steve’s organs have saved the lives of four others, including that of a young dad with a one-year-old son.

Julie said: “The moment you lose them, you can’t get them back. But you can give some hope to others. I knew I’d lost him, and it was hard, but I thought ‘this can’t all be for nothing.’

“At times you do feel guilty because you’re letting them cut them up, but they treated Steve with respect and dignity and it’s what he would’ve wanted. It was the type of person Steve was.

“Steve was fit and active. His death was one of those tragic things and there are no real answers. But he has given hope.

“Four people can now be with their families, even for just a short while longer, and a little boy still has his daddy.”

To join the NHS Organ Donor Register visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 2323.