French Autopsy Finds Hyron Andrews Died Of Torn Aorta — SkimNews
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- French authorities, via an autopsy cited in a Lions statement, found Andrews died from "a tear in the aorta (due to natural causes)" — the aorta being the main artery leading away from the heart
- Andrews was found dead at his team's hotel in France last week, aged 31, ahead of the Lions' Champions Cup fixture against La Rochelle
- SA Rugby's initial statement said Andrews "passed away tragically, following an accident" and "died after falling" at the team hotel — a framing the autopsy now directly contradicts
- Lions players were visibly emotional as Andrews' jersey was placed on the field before the match against La Rochelle, with several players in tears
- Andrews, a lock, had returned to the Lions this summer after spending the previous two years at English Premiership club Sale Sharks
- The Andrews family has asked for privacy as the repatriation of his body to South Africa begins, with no timeline yet confirmed
Why it matters: The autopsy shifts the official account from the within-hours 'died after falling' line SA Rugby issued to a natural cardiac event — a torn aorta, a condition often fatal within minutes and typically undetectable beforehand. His body has not yet been repatriated to South Africa, with the family asking for privacy.
Ask SkimNews
