Dylan Bettencourt
Former Springbok rugby player Jannie du Plessis lost his one-year-old son in a drowning accident on Tuesday, the same day he celebrated his 39th birthday.
The tragic news was confirmed by the CEO of Lions Rugby Company, Rudolf Straeuli.
“As a Lions family, we aren’t doing well. I can confirm that this tragedy took place. We are all devastated,” Straeuli told Sport24.
Former Springbok prop Toks van der Linde broke the news on Twitter in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
“Please pray for Jannie du Plessis and his family. His one-year-old drowned last night. My heart is broken, broken, broken,” he tweeted.
Further details surrounding the death of the player’s child have been revealed with the Straeuli appealing to the public to give the family privacy.
“Jannie and his family now need to be left alone to process this tragedy. We offer our full support to him and kindly request everyone to keep them in their thoughts and prayers,” he said.
Du Plessis joined the Lions with the goal of assisting and mentoring the younger group of props at the club in 2019 while also making sporadic appearances on the field.
He was a member of Jake White and the Springboks World Cup winning side in 2007 and retired from the national team having made 70 appearances for the side between 2007 and 2015.
The 39-year-old is also a medical doctor and is the older brother of Springbok hooker Bismarck du Plessis.
Image source: @Alchetron
