The health ministry has withdrawn a television advert encouraging people to become organ donors after the advertising standards agency said it is ‘unnecessarily hurtful and distasteful’.

The advert features a triathlete ducking under a railway crossing barrier to emphasis risk-taking. The train drivers union took issue with the ad, saying it is a ‘life-threatening situation which train drivers would rather not be confronted with.’

The commission said the ad suggested such risky behaviour is tough and that a person gets as much as they can out of life if they take risks.

Health minister Edith Schippers had earlier given her full backing to the ad.