Rugby: Brumbies player dies in Durban hospital

[joemac]

Rugby: Brumbies player dies in Durban hospital

3:00PM Monday Apr 06, 2009
http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/mackay230.jpg
Brumbies forward Shawn Mackay died of a heart attack a week after being hit by a car. Photo / Getty Images



Brumbies Super 14 rugby player Shawn Mackay has died in a Durban hospital.
Mackay, 26, died this morning (AEST), having suffered a cardiac arrest, a Brumbies spokesman said.
He had been in hospital, critically ill with multiple injuries, since the early hours of March 29 when he was hit by an armed response car in a Durban street.
He had shown some positive signs after being brought out of a medically induced coma late last week and underwent surgery.
"After his surgery Shawn contracted an infection in his bloodstream," said Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan.
"He deteriorated rapidly and suffered a cardiac arrest from which he didn't recover."
"It's devastating news for his family and for all of the Brumbies community.
"Our thoughts and those of the players are with his family at this most difficult time."
Mackay had been admitted to St Augustine's hospital in Durban with a cervical spinal fracture and dislocation, a fractured skull as well as a broken leg and multiple facial fractures after being struck by the vehicle.
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The incident occurred about 4.15am Durban time when Mackay and a number of other Brumbies were leaving a nightclub, having wound down after their Super 14 loss to the Sharks the previous evening.
Mackay's parents, John and Leonie, and girlfriend Trish flew to South Africa on Tuesday to be by his side.
The Brumbies were flying back to Australia on Monday after completing their three-match trip to South Africa with a win over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein at the weekend.
- AAP

[Shayne]

Thats really sad :(

[honeybee]

http://images.supersport.co.za/MackayShawn090122handsGbg.jpg It is very sad, so young.

[boards]

Tragic - that is so sad to hear that outlook once so good has deteriorated to a tearful end.

[licorice]

How awful.

[Sam Edwards]

Shame that is so sad, What a devestating blow to his family and his team.

[dallas]

really sad!!!

[jiggs]

R.i.p.

[Nyala]

RIP, thats such a tragic end to a young and energetic life.

[Strawbs]

OMG, how awful!

RIP

[honeybee]

Source supersport
Shocked teammates of ACT Brumbies forward Shawn Mackay, who died after being hit by a car in South Africa, will be allowed to opt out of this weekend's game, coach Andy Friend said on Tuesday.
Mackay and his distraught father would want the Brumbies to win their Super 14 match against South Africa's Stormers in Canberra on Saturday, Friend said, but there would be no pressure on grieving players to turn out.

"We'll certainly respect every player's view on that, for all of us this is an absolute tragedy," Friend told reporters.
"We've got a lot of young players who've never dealt with anything like this in the past. So if players aren't up for playing we're certainly not going to make them play."
Mackay, 26, died on Monday of cardiac arrest after sustaining multiple injuries when he was hit by an armed response car in a Durban street while on the Canberra-based Brumbies' Super 14 tour of South Africa.
Friend, who received the news of the young lock's death as he flew home with the squad on Monday, said he had a difficult phone conversation with Mackay's father John.
"His boy's come away with us on a tour and he hasn't come home, so there's a sense of responsibility from us," Friend said.
"John was obviously distraught but also at the same time appreciative of the fact that he's got a lot of love and support from all of us here and we're all caring for him."
Mackay's parents remain in South Africa with Brumbies officials and are preparing to bring his body home.
Friend praised the doctors who worked to save Mackay's life. "His care has been tremendous, you couldn't have asked for more there," he said. "Our (team) doctor Warren McDonald's been there the whole time with him.
"Nothing more could have been done for him unfortunately, he got this infection and that's led to the cardiac arrest."
While Friend said rugby was the last thing on everyone's minds, the squad would meet on Tuesday for a voluntary prayer session before recommencing training on Wednesday.
"They're a strong group, we are all going to deal with it our own way but we all know we are there together for each other," he said.
The Brumbies will wear black armbands at the match in Mackay's honour.
Mackay, a 1.96m (6ft 4in) lock forward, had been a regular on the international Rugby Sevens circuit for five years and had made six Super 14 appearances for the NSW Waratahs before switching to the Brumbies. He played in two games this season, both on the South African tour, coming off the bench against the Lions in Johannesburg and against the Sharks the night before he was knocked down.

http://images.supersport.co.za/MackayShawn090122TrainingG180.jpgShawn Mackay