Natasha Richardson’s family reportedly allowed Natasha’s organs to be donated for transplant after her death last week.

The 45 year old actress, who starred in the likes of Maid in Manhattan and The Parent Trap, was an ideal candidate to be a donor: she was in good general health when she died of head injuries last Wednesday following a ski accident the previous Monday. Her family - husband Liam Neeson, mum Vanessa Redgrave, sister Joely Richardson and sons Michael & Daniel - are said to have agreed to the organ donation before she was taken off life support.

A source close to the family told People magazine that the decision was a “very Natasha” thing to do: “She spent so much time fighting the stigma of AIDS; someone like that would naturally donate her organs. At least by donating her organs something good could come out of [the tragedy].”

A family friend Blaine Trump added that Oscar winner Liam Neeson is “doing okay”: “It takes a while to absorb this. But he says the family needs to move forward. They will take it one step at a time.

“With good friends by their side, they will get through the tough days ahead.”

Liam is expected to return to work on his new film Chloe in the next week and their teenage boys are also expected to return to school too.