Anatoly Biryakov

March 8, 2003 - Anatoly Biryakov, 20, of Haifa died of injuries suffered in the March 5 suicide bombing of an Egged bus, in which a total of 17 people were killed.

The bus was traveling on the city's main Moriah Boulevard near the Carmel Center, on the way to Haifa University, when the blast turned the bus into a charred wreck and scattered bodies along the road. The suicide bomber, who had boarded the bus, had the bomb strapped to his body, laden with metal shrapnel in order to maximize the number of injuries. A total of 17 people were killed and 53 injured.

Anatoly Biryakov immigrated to Israel from Russia three years ago with his mother Irena and his sister Tamara. He was working to save up money for university studies. After being injured while working as a carpenter, he found work cleaning at Haifa University. He was was critically injured while on his way to work and died three days later.

His mother decided to donate his organs for transplant, "in order that his heart should not stop beating, even if it is in someone else's body. If his heart is alive and beating, he is still alive." Anatoly had a rare blood type and those who received his organs had been waiting a long time for transplants. Irena said of the recipients of Anatoly's heart, liver and kidneys - two Jews, an Arab and a Druze: "They are like my children."

Anatoly Biryakov was buried in the Christian cemetery in Haifa. He is survived by his father, mother and sister Tamara (19).