A vital new medical unit has opened at a Barbados hospital in memory of a Northern Ireland barrister who died in a Caribbean sailing accident.

John Thompson QC was a highly-respected barrister who died in 2007 while fulfilling a lifelong ambition to sail across the Atlantic Ocean. He was treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados, but his family were unable to donate his organs as the facilities were not available on the island, where many travel to the US for transplants.

After a memorial in Queen’s University Belfast, his family launched a trust to raise money to support organ donation at the hospital.

The new Surgical Intensive Care Unit has already completed a number of organ transplants and other life saving procedures.

Liam McCollum QC, chairman of the Bar Council of Northern Ireland, said: “I am delighted to hear of the opening of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit in Barbados.

“This facility was desperately needed and has already saved lives and will continue to do so for many years to come. I cannot think of a better testament to the memory of John.

“I want to pay tribute to John’s wife, Tina Thompson, whose tenacity and determination secured this facility for the people of Barbados. During such a difficult time for her and the family she refused to give up and the result is a positive gift for the island.

“I also would like to acknowledge the efforts of Monye Anyadike-Danes QC, Serena Jones, Ron Jones and John Gill who worked tirelessly as trustees of the fund to assist Tina in paying tribute to her husband.”