McCall died of heart failure - 橄欖球

哀悼…還這麼年輕…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/irish/3578459.stm
Monday, 29 March, 2004, 15:59 GMT 16:59 UK
McCall died of heart failure

It has been confirmed that Ireland's under-19 flanker John McCall died from
a heart problem.


The post mortem was brought forward from Tuesday to Monday and a pathologist
confirmed that the teenager died from cardiac failure.

An IRB statement said that the player's death will be remembered by teams at
the U19 World Cup tournament in Durban.

"As a mark of respect a minute's silence will be observed before each of the
games on Wednesday," it said.

Meanwhile the Ireland squad will return home from South Africa following the
death of the 18-year-old Royal Armagh School pupil.

The decision was reached between the players and management in Durban on
Monday morning.

McCall collapsed during Ireland's opening game against New Zealand on Saturday.

''There are no details yet, but it will be a private homecoming,''said IRFU
spokesman John Redmond.


The International Rugby Board and the South African Rugby Football Union
fully support the decision and will be assisting the Irish management and
team in any way during the coming days.


The IRFU senior vice president Barry Keogh flew out to South Africa on Sunday
to oversee matters.

The teenager's father Ian also arrived in Durban on Sunday evening and met
with manager Michael Cunningham and coach Pat Murray on Monday morning.

Ireland were due to face Japan in the second phase of games on Wednesday.


The 18-year-old McCall is understood to have taken the ball at the tail of a
line-out. He drove forward before being tackled around the ankles before
laying the ball back to his team-mates.

When play moved on he failed to move, and despite treatment was pronounced
dead a few hours later in hospital.


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