ACT Brumbies lock Shawn Mackay, who suffered spinal injuries and a broken leg after being hit by a car in South Africa, died in hospital today from an infection following surgery.
Mackay had woken up from a medically-induced coma last week and started communicating with doctors and family through blinking after undergoing surgery to his spine.
Shocked Brumbies coach Andy Friend choked back tears as he spoke about the tragic death.
Brumbies players were told of Mackay’s passing when they arrived back in Sydney on Monday afternoon following their three-game tour of South Africa, the news stunning the close-knit group.
The popular 26-year-old died in a Durban hospital after he contracted an infection and went into cardiac arrest as he was undergoing surgery for injuries suffered in a hit-and-run car accident late last month.
“I was notified in flight from South Africa and notified the players upon our arrival,” a shaken Friend said, reading from a prepared statement. “It’s the worst possible news and it’s fair to say we’re all in shock and we’ve taken the news very, very hard.
“When we left South Africa we all hoped Macca would recover very quickly and would be joining us at home in a matter of weeks. To hear that the blood infection has led to a cardiac arrest and has taken his life is all very hard for us to reconcile.”
Friend paid tribute to the former Australia sevens representative, labeling him a quality player and human being.
“Shawn Mackay was an outstanding person. When we recruited Macca to the Brumbies we did so for his character as much as his outstanding rugby skills,” Friend said.
“He was generous, he was warm, he was funny, he was an enthusiastic player who had the respect of everybody at the Brumbies and everybody in Australian rugby. His passing is a tragedy.”
Mackay was struck by a car after leaving a Durban nightclub the day after the Brumbies’ match against the Sharks. He suffered spinal damage, a fractured skull and a broken leg.
The son of former Newtown and Eastern Suburbs league player John Mackay, Shawn made his Super 14 debut with NSW in 2006.
He played six games for the Waratahs before switching to the Brumbies this year.
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