This week it was confirmed that experienced lock Hyron Andrews had died from ‘a tear in the aorta (due to natural causes)’, after being found unresponsive at the team hotel while on tour with the Lions.
There has been an outpouring of tributes ever since the tragic death came to light last Friday, and Edinburgh coach Sean Everitt – who previously coached Andrews at the Sharks – has spoken poignantly about the person and player he remembers so fondly.
“He was a motivated young man, with a lot of talent and skills,” Everitt told IOL Sport. “With us preparing for the Lions on Friday night with Hyron in it, he would have been a massive threat.
“He was one of those guys who every week gives his best, whether on the training field or on match day. He was very diligent in his preparation, which is required of a guy who runs a lineout.
“Hyron was an unassuming character, well-mannered, respected by every member of his team, and very humble.
“He had great potential, and he was part of the Junior Springboks, but you would never say so. He just went about his work every day.
“He was incredibly polite and very popular. He was called Ice Man for a reason – he was always chilled and relaxed. He was a good man.”
Hyron Andrews remains in the thoughts of the Lions
Speaking to the media this week, Lions assistant coach Julian Redelinghuys said the team were just taking it day by day.
“We’ve been saying this since it happened: there’s no manual for this. We don’t know how the players are going to respond,” Redelinghuys commented.
“We can only do what we can to support the guys as much as we can and do what we think will be best for the weekend.
“I don’t think there’s any team that has had to go through a thing like this, where a player died in camp a day before a game and then they were on tour for another two weeks.”
FULL STATEMENT
Following Andrews’ autopsy, the Lions released the following statement.
“The French authorities, who conducted the autopsy and, in whose care Hyron’s body currently remains, described the cause of death as ‘a tear in the aorta (due to natural causes), which led to a significant accumulation of blood within the sac surrounding the heart’,” the statement continued.
“The Andrews family asks for respect, privacy and patience during this difficult time as the repatriation process begins.
“A timeline for the return of Hyron’s body to South Africa has not yet been determined. Further information will be communicated when it becomes available and under the guidance of the family.”