VEREENIGING – The Springs Rugby Club was plunged into mourning after one of its U18 rugby players tragically died during the Vereeniging Junior Rugby Club’s rugby day at Vereeniging Gymnasium.
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Christive Kamanyi Kimankinda (17) collapsed at half-time during their match against the Vereeniging Rugby Club. The first aid personnel and the paramedics applied breathing and chest compressions on him for 45 minutes and he was also shocked with a defibrillator. Emergency personnel got his heart going twice but could not succeed a third time.
He died on the side of the field. His parents did not attend the match, but hastily drove from the East Rand. The deceased’s brother played in Vanderbijlpark for Springs’ U21 rugby team against NWU Vaal in the semi-finals of the Falcons Peregrine League and was contacted by his parents that there was a family crisis. He rushed to the East Rand after which he found out that his brother had died in Vereeniging – only 10 km from where he played rugby in Vanderbijlpark. Condolences continue to pour in from everywhere.
*This is a developing story and will be updated.