Brother who saved sister’s life dies from same rare condition

A 21-year-old man who saved his sister’s life by donating bone marrow at the age of two has died from the same rare genetic disorder. Dushyant Mehta passed away on March 12 at University College London Hospital. His sister, Devaanshi, died in 2012 at the age of 15 from the same condition.

Inquest into Dushyant Mehta's death

An inquest at St Pancras Coroner's Court heard that Mr Mehta had dyskeratosis congenita, a condition that causes bone marrow failure. Assistant coroner Jonathan Stevens described the case as “utterly heartbreaking” for a family who had already lost a daughter to the disorder.

The court was told that Mr Mehta received a bone marrow transplant in September 2025. However, in October of the same year, he developed graft-versus-host disease, a complication where cells in the donated marrow attack the recipient's body. Treatment for this involved suppressing his immune system, a process that required careful balancing to prevent other infections.

Further complications arose, and despite an operation on his failing intestines, Mr Mehta died. The coroner stated that the graft-versus-host disease led to sepsis, intestinal inflammation, and haemorrhage, which collectively resulted in multi-organ failure and his death. Mr Stevens concluded that Mr Mehta died of natural causes.

Mr Stevens noted Mr Mehta’s bravery and the support of his family, stating that he dealt with his illness with “tremendous grace and dignity”. Dushyant’s mother, Kalyani, told the court that her son was “amazing” and “stoic” in managing his illness. She added that he had many aspirations, including becoming an architect and travelling the world.