A north Cork town was yesterday mourning a 16-year-old hurling, football and rugby player who collapsed and died after doing gym work at a private residence in the area.
James Fitzgerald from Ballincolly, Charleville was training at about 4pm on Saturday when he became ill. An ambulance was called and the teenager was transferred to Mallow General Hospital where he later died.
Garrett Barry, PRO of Charleville GAA club, said the town was in a “state of shock” following the passing of young James.
“An autopsy will be carried out. James was an asthmatic, so we will wait and see. James was well known in north Cork. The whole county knew him. He was a terrific footballer and hurler, and he also played rugby very well. He went to school in Charleville CBS and would have been on all the teams there. Charleville GAA just qualified for a county championship and James was pivotal in that. He dragged us into it himself. We were all so excited about it. He was a fantastic boy.”
Mr Barry said James hailed from a sporting family “steeped in all things GAA”. He is survived by his parents Des and Geraldine and his two brothers.
Messages of support for the Fitzgerald family were posted yesterday on Twitter and Facebook. Charleville GAA were among those who posted messages of solidarity to the family on Twitter.