A FORMER Felixstowe man who was killed in a motorcycle crash in America helped save three lives by carrying an organ donor card.Tributes were today paid to Ian Levine, 35, who died after his four-year-old Suzuki Katana bike left the road and crashed into a tree in California.

A FORMER Felixstowe man who was killed in a motorcycle crash in America helped save three lives by carrying an organ donor card.

Tributes were today paid to Ian Levine, 35, who died after his four-year-old Suzuki Katana bike left the road and crashed into a tree in California.

A celebration of his life is to be held at Felixstowe Trades and Labour Club on Saturday from noon to 3pm and all his friends are invited to attend.

Mr Levine's father Barry and step-mum Ann Levine, who live in Colneis Road, Felixstowe, rushed to the USA to be by his bedside after the crash.

They have been comforted by knowing one of his kidneys, pancreas and liver have been used in transplant operations to save three people's lives.

“They would have used his eyes, heart and valves, but couldn't because he had lived in England in the 1980s and there was a concern about mad cow disease,” said Mrs Levine.

“But he wanted to help others if he died and in that moment he has left a legacy which has allowed three other people to live and that is very comforting.”

The family moved to Felixstowe when Mr Levine was 12 years and he attended Orwell High School, making many friends in the town and area.

He later moved back to America - where his mum Maureen Watt lives in Washington State - but has visited many times over the years to keep in touch with friends and see family.

He married his wife Tamee , 44, about 18 months ago and they live in a town called Rough and Ready, Nevada County.

“He was very happy in America, although he always said he wanted to live here in England - but being an American citizen made that difficult,” said Mrs Levine.

“But the last two years since he met Tamee have been two of the happiest of his life.

“He had been a bit of a tearaway but he sorted himself out, got married and was settled.

“He loved motorcycles - it's a family thing - and we know he would have had a smile on his face until that second when the crash happened.

“When we heard about the crash, we collected Ian's dad from work at Lakenheath and his two brothers Dean and Vincent and went straight to California. Unfortunately, his sister Lucy couldn't come with us.

“He had been on a life support machine but was pronounced dead an hour before we arrived.”

His wife, a passenger on the bike who suffered injuries, is expected to make a full recovery.

The family want the celebration of Mr Levine's life to be a happy occasion - those attending should not bring flowers, but can make a donation to the hospital where he was taken.

Pay your tributes to Ian Levine: write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk