Samoan Kelly Meafua jumped from a bridge in France following the team’s final game of the season
32-year-old Kelly Meafua jumped from a bridge in France into the River Tarn, in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Meafua was unable to be revived by his teammate, Christopher Vaotoa, who jumped in to save him.
Vaotoa was taken to the hospital with hypothermia and is reportedly in a stable condition.
The pair had been out celebrating their recent win in a French second division match.
His club, Montauban, has expressed their deepest shock and condolences to his wife, children, and teammates.
“The entire club is shocked and everyone is thinking of his wife, his children, his teammates and more generally everyone who loves the club,”
“Kelly was a player who was well liked by everybody. His joy for life was infectious and radiant. Today we have lost a player, a friend and a brother.”
Montauban club statement
The back-row forward was well-liked by many, as tributes flow in for the beloved star.
Meafua was a talented player, born in Samoa, who later moved to New Zealand. He began playing Rugby when he was 20 and also played professional Rugby in Australia.
He moved to France in 2015 to continue his Rugby career.
L'USM Sapiac annonce dans la douleur le décès de Kelly MEAFUA.
— USM Sapiac (@UsmSapiacRugby) May 7, 2022
Nous sommes tous choqué par ce drame qui est survenu dans la nuit de vendredi à samedi.
Toutes nos pensées vont vers sa famille, ses coéquipiers et l'ensemble des amoureux du club.https://t.co/hpz8htw2fW pic.twitter.com/XcvSLa3KDs
Un milliers des personnes réunies à @UsmSapiacRugby pour rendre un dernier hommage à Kelly Meafua décédé tragiquement samedi matin.. beaucoup d’émotions @davidgerard31 @BosvielJ @villemontauban @UltrasSapiac reportage demain sur @viaOccitanieTV @AnneAguer pic.twitter.com/ngKdLm4PGa
— judith soula (@JSoula) May 9, 2022
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