Brumby Shawn Mackay dies in hospital

[Ecky]

I was truly shocked by this news this morning.

Terrible and tragic - RIP Big Fella

[tdevil]

Shocking news
R.I.P and condolences to familiy, friends and team mates

[RuckNMaul]

RIP Shaun Mackay
Terrible news

[Thequeerone]

RIP personally saddened by the news can only think of his loved ones shock and loss

[mudskipper]

Devastatingly sad news… Shawn MacKay was a gifted and talented young man. He is a tremendous loss to the Australian rugby community.

While he played for many clubs and excelled with the Australian sevens, we were lucky the have him at the Brumbies this season. Unfortunately by chance only for a short time, nevertheless “Once a Brumby always a Brumby”. Shawn wont be forgotten at the Brumbies…

My sincere condolences to his family, partner Trish and to his many friends...

---------- Post added at 14:58 ---------- Previous post was at 14:34 ----------

Brumbies lock Shawn Mackay dies in Durban hospital

By Bret Harris
April 06, 2009


Brumbies Super 14 player Shawn Mackay has died in a Durban hospital a week after being involved in a car accident.

Mackay was rushed to St Augustine's hospital after being hit by a vehicle while on his way back to the team hotel after a night out following the Brumbies' loss to the Sharks on March 28.

He was put in a medically induced coma as a team of surgeons operated on serious head injuries.

Mackay, 26, died at about 11.00 (EST) this morning, having suffered a cardiac arrest.

“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.”

Last Friday, Mackay was slowly brought out of the coma and he was able to communicate by blinking with his parents and girlfriend, who had rushed to his side.

But Mackay developed an infection before the Brumbies left South Africa on Sunday following their win against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

The son of former rugby league star John Mackay, Shawn was a very popular member of the Brumbies team and had also played for NSW Waratahs.

His father and mother Leonie, and his partner Trish, were by his bedside.

Mackay was a regular with the Australian sevens team for five years and coached the Australian women's rugby team to victory in the Oceania World Cup qualifying event in Samoa last year, which set the Wallaroos up for their success in the showpiece event in Dubai.

Brumbies players travelling home from South Africa were told of team-mate Mackay's death when they arrived home in Australia.

Fagan said the the players were told of Mackay's death when their plane touched down in Sydney about at 2pm.

“I've spoken to (coach) Andy Friend on the flight that's currently in transit from Johannesburg to Sydney and told him of the news,” Fagan told reporters in Canberra.

The playing group in Canberra that didn't travel to South Africa were informed of Mackay's death around noon.

Brumbies coach Andy Friend had the difficult task of breaking the news of Mackay's death to his teammates when they landed at Sydney Airport.

Friend emerged briefly and alone from immigration to speak to the waiting media.

“It is the worst possible news,” Friend said.

“It's fair to say that we are all in shock and we have taken the news very, very hard.

“When we left South Africa we all hoped that Macca would recover quickly and would be joining us home in a matter of weeks.

“To hear that the blood infection has led to a cardiac arrest and has taken his life is very hard for us to reconcile.

“Shawn Mackay was an outstanding person. When we recruited Macca to the Brumbies we did so for his character as much as for his outstanding rugby skills.

“He was generous, he was warm, he was funny and an enthusiastic player.

“He had the respect of everybody at the Brumbies and everybody in Australian rugby.

“His passing is a tragedy.

“On behalf of the Brumbies I would like to say to Shawn's family and his partner Trish, we share your loss and our love and our prayers are with you as we seek to come to terms with his passing.”

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

[robyn <3]

That's terrible news. Shocking

RIP Shawn, condolences to his family, partner and friends. Such a sad way to go

[lara93]

im so shocked!
im actually crying because my uncle said he should be ok
RIP shawn!

[prop53]

Brumbies lock Shawn Mackay dies in Durban hospital.

Sad loss to not only his family but to the Rugby World

R.I.P Shawn

[jono]

thats devestating.
thoughts go out to his family and friends in this time of grief.

[slomo]

very sad news , RIP...

[travelling_gerry]

Tim Clarke

April 6, 2009 - 5:01PM
Western Force players will use this Friday's clash with the Hurricanes to pay their respects to Brumbies forward Shawn Mackay who tragically died in South Africa this morning from injuries sustained after being hit by a car while on tour.

Mackay had shown some positive signs after being brought out of a medically induced coma after being struck by a vehicle in Durban a week ago and he underwent spinal surgery.

But he developed an infection in his bloodstream and his condition deteriorated rapidly. He suffered a fatal heart attack earlier today.

As the Brumbies staff and players were coming to terms with the tragedy after arriving back from South Africa today, the world rugby community rallied, with tributes flowing from ARU chief executive John O'Neill down.

Force skipper Nathan Sharpe said the team - whose stars Matt Giteau, Josh Valentine and Cameron Shepherd had all played with Mackay - would pay their respects this weekend.

"It is a black day in Australian rugby and Australian sport generally. For a tragedy like that to happen is terrible," Sharpe said.

"All our thoughts and feelings are with Shawn and his family, his friends and his Brumbies teammates.

"The guys will be hurting a lot and it is going to be a very hard time for them. We wish them all the best.

"Australian rugby is a very close knit group and there is that personal connection, whether it is sevens, Super 14 or Test matches - it is one of those things you wish you could change.

"We will definitely be involved this Friday, a minute’s silence is a great idea and black armbands (to remember Shawn)."

A former pupil at Waverley College in Sydney, Mackay graduated from the Sevens program into Super 14 this season with the Canberra-based Brumbies.

Giteau, Shepherd and former Force vice-captain Scott Fava were all in that Commonwealth Games squad with Mackay, while Valentine played with the 26-year-old at the Randwick club in New South Wales.

He made his debut off the bench for the Brumbies against the Lions in their opening tour match in South Africa a little over a fortnight ago and won his second cap as a replacement in the game against the Sharks in Durban.

Hours later on a night out with teammates he was struck by a car crossing a road in the city.

His injuries were extensive and there were complications to follow when he contracted an infection as a consequence of the multiple injuries sustained.

Shattered Brumbies players only learned of the tragic news on returning to Sydney this afternoon from their tour to South Africa.

Shawn’s parents John and Leonie and his partner Trish had flown to South Africa early last week to be by his side.

http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/forc...0406-9urh.html

[Burgs]

WA crowds as a whole are notoriously late to kick off.

Please make the effort to be there early this week so you aren’t blundering about trying to get to your seat during the minutes silence!

[beige]

Shocking news - thoughts go out to his family

[welshrugbyfan]

The Brumbies weren't aware that he had passed away during their flight back to Canberra.

Even the girls 7's side were told not to text the boys and let them know.

Once the plane landed they were told about it and the plane stayed on the tarmac for an hour before they got off.

Poor blokes, I can imagine at that level bonds are pretty tight amongst team mates.

Thoughts to his family, the players and support staff.

[The Lone Hydrangea]

Rest in peace.