Hyron Andrews, the South African rugby player who was found dead at his team's hotel ahead of a Champions Cup match, died from a tear in the artery around his heart. An autopsy has confirmed the cause of death was natural causes.
Andrews, a former Sale Sharks player, had recently moved to a new club when he passed away before what would have been a major European fixture. The news of his death sent shockwaves through the rugby community, and many waited anxiously for answers about what had taken the young athlete's life so suddenly.
The autopsy results offer some closure to his family, teammates, and fans who loved him. A tear in the aorta, the large artery surrounding the heart, can occur without warning and is often undetectable until it is too late, even in people who appear to be in peak physical condition.
The rugby world continues to mourn Andrews, and the full weight of his absence is still being felt across the sport.
Originally published by BBC Africa.