Coen Ashton

About Coen

Meet Coen

Coen was born with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), a genetic condition that affects mainly the lungs and digestion. Coen has spent a third of his first 15 years admitted to hospital. At the age of 8 he was diagnosed with insulin dependent diabetes.

Coen’s lungs deteriorated to a point that he required a double lung transplant to survive. Coen finding the silver lining in every situation decided to use his dire situation to promote organ donation.

At the age of 13 Coen became the youngest person to jet ski the 2000 kilometre length of the Murray River, and all while he needed a double lung transplant. He signed 100 new names to the Organ Donor Register along the way.

He received his gift of lungs at the age of 15. Coen then jet skied back up the Murray River, this time in 7 days, instead of the 7 weeks it took him the first time, to prove the difference a transplant can make to someone. Seven days is arguably the fastest time frame ever jet skied the Murray River.

Coen now spreads his infectious positive attitude to life at corporate functions, conferences and tours schools around Australia talking of his life, organ donation and silver linings.

Coen’s Achievements and Accolades

Youngest person to jet ski the 2000km length of the Murray River
Unofficially the fastest person to jet ski the Murray River
First person to be awarded all 3 of The Pride of Australia Medals -state, national and Peoples Choice
3 times key speaker at the Halogen Foundation’s Young Leaders Day in Sydney and Brisbane

My Family - My Support

Coen’s story is one that is lived by all of his family, a very tight, dedicated and loving family. Coen’s parents, Mark and Dawn and his six-year-old brother Kai take every step of the journey with him.

Whilst waiting for ‘the call’ family had to relocated from Maryborough, QLD to Melbourne to wait patiently for Coen to have the double-lung transplant.

“If we stayed at home and waited for the call we risked missing out because by the time we traveled the opportunity would have passed us by” said Dawn “This was a risk we couldn’t afford to take…

My thoughts on Organ Donation

“Everyone wants to be a hero, become an organ donor and you can be”

It can be a tricky talking about organ donation because it involves talking about dying. What many people don’t realise is that less than 2% of people die in a way that can allow them to donate their organs.

The difference is one donor can save up to 9 peoples lives. These 9 people then have an effect on their own families who see their loved one enjoy a better quality of life. One donor can make a huge difference to many people..

Talk about organ donation today

My Video Reel

Last year Coen was featured on Sunday Night show talking about living with Cystic Fibrosis, waiting for his lungs, girlfriends and his Jet Ski adventure.

You can watch the full video by clicking the image on the left.

Home Video

We put this video on the left, together a number of years ago now, it show what it was like for me and my family growing up with CF.

We are in the process of creating a new one, until then enjoy this video.

Check out more of my videos in our video section.