RIP Jonah Lomu :(

[ThumbWitchesAbroad]

Such a giant of a man, such a sad loss. I know he's been out of the game for years now, but he was unforgettable. Such a great player (even if it was generally to our detriment!)

RIP and condolences to his family - such a shock for them too. :(
news.sky.com/story/1589524/rugby-legend-jonah-lomu-dies-aged-40

Oh no that's really sad. Poor family

Lovely chap, such a shame he had so much kidney trouble.

I am up feeding DS2 and was shocked reading this even though he had his health issues.

Very sad news, I am actually crying (blame the hormones). I am a kiwi and I felt like I grew up watching him progress throughout his career.

I was 12 at the 1995 World Cup, I still remember that game against England very clearly.

He was an absolute legend. My thoughts are with his family and friends.

Such sad news. He was a phenomenal rugby player - I'm not big fan of the game, but as a Kiwi, it was hard not to be very proud of him. Unstoppable.

Thoughts are with his family and two small boys.

I very rarely feel sad about the death of people I don't know but this guy was such a legend and an inspiration. So bloody young too

Tragedy that his brilliant career was cut so short & he spent yrs on dialysis.

Very sad.

So young

Really, really sad news

Lomu was a legend. The impact he had on rugby was immense. My heart goes out to his wife and young children. In spite of his kidney problems this seems so sudden.

Just off the plane home it seems. Condolences To to all his family. Such a shame

So so sad

He was so brilliant.

I'm a Kiwi too (in UK 20 years) originally from Auckland. and I am finding myself very teary and upset about this sad news today. This is the most upset about anyone I've never actually known dying.

Jonah Lomu was such an awesome person and faced such challenges in his life especially with his health. As well as being an incredible rugby player - I'm smiling as I watch clips of his amazing rugby performances on YouTube.

He had been in UK for 2 months for RWC, with his family, and I read he was undergoing 6 hours of dialysis 3 times a week while he was here. He's only just returned home to Auckland this week. As the cause of death was cardiac arrest I wonder if it was related to the flight?

It's a sad sad day indeed.

I've made a donation to the UK Nephrotic Syndrome Trust in his memory - it was nice to be able to do something, however small, to acknowledge him.

Feeling a bit teary about this too. He had such a massive impact on the game (I love rugby), but also seemed like a genuinely nice chap.

Those poor little boys growing up without their dad.

Jonah Lomu trampling defenders is one of the most awe inspiring sights in sport. My heart goes out to his family and friends.

I've also been watching old footage and shedding a tear or two.

So very sad.

. Incredible.

I think you are sadly probably spot on LovelyFriend regarding the connection with the long flight home.
Long term dialysis patients do have a higher risk of developing Pulmonary embolism (associated with DVT) and PE is a known cause of sudden, unexpected death.
I am so, so sad to hear this news.
Jonah Lomu, whether he knew it or not, was a source of inspiration for many kidney disease sufferers.
He demonstrated spectacularly that there is life after kidney disease and only someone who has experienced the awful fatigue which comes with kidney failure can fully appreciate how strong and determined an individual he must have been.
Condolences to his family.

I've made a donation to the UK Nephrotic Syndrome Trust in his memory - it was nice to be able to do something, however small, to acknowledge

I will do the same. Thank you for thinking of this.

Very sad news. I have recently educated my American DH on why Lomu was so incredible. Such a shame his career was so short. Thoughts are with his family at this time.

The BBC have just said this about him:

"There have probably been four other sportsmen who have shifted the paradigm in the last 50 years. Muhammad Ali did it with his speed and sweet mouth in heavyweight boxing. Michael Jordan revolutionised basketball with his air and all-court ambition, Tiger Woods golf with first his strength and then his relentless finesse. Usain Bolt saved sprinting from the dogs and dragged it to the heavens.

Lomu is in their company. There had been big wingers before and fast ones. Never before had those talents coalesced in the same man: 6ft 5in, 19 stone, capable of running 100m in 10.8 seconds, a step and a shimmy in there as well if ever they were needed."

I feel so proud and so sad.

Thank you for that info on risks to dialysis patient WingedHarpy

The article that quote is from is just lovely.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/34859301

Proud and sad is exactly it. As a New Zealander I always feel that one Kiwi's success is everyone's success. We are such a small country and those that stand out make a big impact when they're gone.