WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s rugby community was in mourning on Thursday after the death of a 22-year-old player following an on-field heart attack.
Waitohi forward Bevan Moody had been in an induced coma in Nelson hospital after suffering cardiac arrest during a division one match on Saturday.
It was the second death this month in New Zealand rugby, after 19-year-old Daniel Baldwin collapsed during a game and died in hospital four days later.
Moody leaves behind a partner and a young daughter, who will turn two on Friday.
“It’s gutting to see a young man die while playing the game he loved. It’s wrong and hard to make sense of when someone dies at such a young age,” New Zealand Rugby general manager Neil Sorensen said in a statement.
“Our thoughts go out to his family, especially his partner and his young daughter, and his team mates who will be taking this sudden loss really hard,” added Sorensen. -- AFP