The Lions have confirmed that second-row Hyron Andrews, who died suddenly last week at the age of 31, suffered an aortic dissection. The South African side announced the finding following a post-mortem examination, with the death most likely occurring on an aortic aneurysm.
Andrews was discovered unresponsive in his hotel room on the morning before the Lions' Champions Cup debut against La Rochelle. Emergency services attempted to resuscitate him but were unsuccessful. South African Rugby Union officials confirmed his death after a fall at the hotel and launched an investigation into the circumstances.
Autopsy Findings and Statement
"Lions Rugby Company, on behalf of the Andrews family, confirms that, following an autopsy report, Hyron's death was found to be caused by an aortic dissection," the statement read. "This dissection most likely occurred on an aortic aneurysm."
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 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," the statement added.
Tributes and Match Decision
The former Sale Sharks lock had only recently joined the Lions, having returned to South Africa this summer after two years in England. He is survived by his wife, Maiglin, and their two young sons.
Despite the tragic circumstances, the Lions fulfilled Saturday's fixture against La Rochelle, with the two teams paying tribute to the second-row ahead of kick-off. His No. 5 jersey was laid on the pitch as players observed a minute's silence, with several Lions players visibly overcome with emotion.
The decision to proceed with the match so shortly after the tragedy has drawn criticism from some quarters, with former England internationals Chris Ashton and Danny Care questioning whether the players should have taken to the field last Saturday.
Support from Edinburgh
The Lions return to URC action this Friday, with opponents Edinburgh having already extended their condolences to the Johannesburg club. Edinburgh attack coach Tim Sampson confirmed that head coach Sean Everitt had reached out to those within the Johannesburg-based club to offer support during an extraordinarily difficult week for the South African side.
