Sean Wainui: death of New Zealand All Blacks player treated as suspected suicide

The decease of New Zealand rugby national subordinate Sean Wainui is being treated arsenic a suspected suicide, according to a coroner.

The 25-year-old, who played for Super Rugby squad the Chiefs, Bay of Plenty and the Māori All Blacks, died successful a car clang at McLaren Falls Park successful the Bay of Plenty connected 18 October.

He was the sole occupant of the car. Wainui is survived by his woman Paige and their 2 children.

The coroner Louella Dunn confirmed connected Tuesday that Wainui’s lawsuit is being treated arsenic a suspected suicide.

In a station to societal media, his woman Paige expressed her grief and paid tribute to Wainui.

“I’m successful implicit pieces and successful truthful overmuch symptom knowing my full different fractional to maine has near this earth…but I volition everlastingly observe you my emotion for being the astir astonishing and unthinkable hubby and begetter you were and the peculiar years we got to walk unneurotic connected this earth.”

Wainui was 1 of the brightest stars successful Super Rugby, having made his debut successful the contention for the Crusaders successful 2016 earlier joining the Chiefs successful 2018.

The centre and occasional winger made 44 appearances for the Hamilton-based club, scoring 90 points. In May this twelvemonth signed for NPC squad Bay of Plenty for the 2021 provincial rugby season.

Wainui made headlines earlier this twelvemonth erstwhile helium became the archetypal Super Rugby subordinate to people 5 tries successful a azygous match, successful the Chiefs’ one-sided triumph implicit the Waratahs successful Sydney.

In a connection connected Monday past week, New Zealand Rugby said it was a “dark day” for the game.

“Our thoughts are with Sean and his whānau [family], peculiarly Paige, Kawariki and Arahia, and we connection them our afloat enactment astatine what is the astir hard of times,” NZR main enforcement Mark Robinson said.

“We cognize Sean’s passing volition beryllium felt profoundly by everyone progressive successful rugby, peculiarly his Bay of Plenty and Chiefs teammates, and we stock their sorrow and their shock.”

• In Australia, situation enactment services tin beryllium reached 24 hours a day: Lifeline 13 11 14; Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467; Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800; MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78; Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636

• In New Zealand: Lifeline Aotearoa’s termination situation helpline 0508 828 865; the Mental Health Foundation 09 623 4812