Brumby Shawn Mackay dies in hospital

[tragic]

[pieter blackie]

Brumbies Super 14 rugby player Shawn Mackay has died in a Durban hospital.

when I read this this morning I could not believe it.The last I read this weekend was that he was comming out of coma slowly

R.I.P

[TraceTrace]

What awful awful news. Absolutely heartbreaking for his family and team mates.

[mudskipper]

What a great guy, the Australian 7s Captain becomes the Women’s 7s coach in their inaugural year 2008.

2008 Shawn MacKay & The first ever Australian Women's Sevens team won Oceania Sevens in Samoa.

He was also with the girls in Dubai watching them win the Womens RWC 7s last month which co-insided with the Brumbies bye week...

[laura]

What a devastating loss.
Sympathy to his family, friends, teammates and everyone who had the honour to know him.
RIP

[blueandblack]

Nice tribute on the banner, Coach.

[.X.]

On the news this morning they had vision of the Brumbies team coming off the plane. Every single one of them look absolutely shattered.

A heartbreaking loss for all.

[GIGS20]

Are we meeting up before the match this week? I was thinking of bringing some black electrical tape.

[blueandblack]

Are we meeting up before the match this week? I was thinking of bringing some black electrical tape.

yeah. bowlo will be closed but there is another place nearby where we will meet before and after. TIF is going to advise exactly what and where.

[jargan83]

Brumbies feel 'sense of responsibility' over the death of Shawn Mackay

April 07, 2009

Brumbies coach Andy Friend says the Super 14 franchise feels a "sense of responsibility" over the death of forward Shawn Mackay on its South African tour.

The 26-year-old died in a Durban hospital on Monday, having suffered a cardiac arrest after being weakened by a blood infection.

He'd been critically ill after sustaining multiple injuries when hit by an armed response car in the early hours of March 29 outside a Durban nightclub where he'd been with teammates.

After getting the shattering news as he flew home to Canberra with his squad on Monday, Friend said he had a difficult phone conversation with the young lock's devastated father John Mackay.

"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 and partner Trish remain in South Africa with Brumbies officials and are preparing to bring his body home.

Friend said Mackay and his father would both want the Brumbies to score a win in their next Super 14 match against the Stormers at Canberra Stadium on Saturday.

But he said there would be no pressure on grieving players who didn't feel ready to take to the field this weekend.

"We'll certainly respect every player's view on that, for all of us this is an absolute tragedy," Friend said.

"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."

The shellshocked team were banding together to cope with the news, Friend said.

Mackay's flatmate, reserve five-eighth Matt Toomua, stayed with teammates overnight, while Wallaby captain Stirling Mortlock will rejoin the side on Wednesday after spending two days with his family in Sydney.

Friend said support pouring in from the international rugby union community was much appreciated at such a difficult time.

"The whole rugby community around the world have been fantastic, the support that we've received as an organisation, as a team and that Shawn's parents and girlfriend have received has just been overwhelming," he said.

"It's touched everybody and their responses have been incredible."

Friend also praised the doctors who worked tirelessly 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.

"I thought the boys showed tremendous character to play the way they did (in Sunday's win) against the Cheetahs when we knew Macca was still very crook.

"We've now got to deal with this one and I know as a group we will."

The Brumbies will wear black armbands at this weekend's match in honour of Mackay.

"We'll pay our due respects, there will be tributes," Friend said.

"It won't just stop on Saturday, it will continue for some time."

Meanwhile, Durban newspaper The Mercury reports that South African police say their investigation into the accident involving Mackay will now be treated as culpable homicide.

Police, who have not made an arrest, had been treating the matter as negligent driving before news of the Mackay's death on Monday.


AAP

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...002381,00.html

[robyn <3]

Are we meeting up before the match this week? I was thinking of bringing some black electrical tape.

Good idea GIGS. I wonder if the force have got some sorted for Friday

[laura]

All Australian franchises are wearing black arm bands and observing 1 minute silence before the game. SARU games are also observing 1 minutes silence.
Like Burgs said in another thread, get there early so people aren't wandering around trying to find seats or buy food/drinks during the minute.

[blueandblack]

All Australian franchises are wearing black arm bands and observing 1 minute silence before the game. SARU games are also observing 1 minutes silence.
Like Burgs said in another thread, get there early so people aren't wandering around trying to find seats or buy food/drinks during the minute.

and GIGS will be bringing his tape for anyone who wants to wear a "black electrical tape band"

[Endurance]

All Australian franchises are wearing black arm bands and observing 1 minute silence before the game. SARU games are also observing 1 minutes silence.
Like Burgs said in another thread, get there early so people aren't wandering around trying to find seats or buy food/drinks during the minute.

I think Canberra will be giving Shawn a 1 minute applause rather than the silence... It'll be a big night for the Brumbies i feel sorry for the Stormers...

[lara93]

The body of Brumbies player Shawn Mackay was flown back to Australia today and his funeral will be held in Sydney on Wednesday.