AFP-JIJI ¨C Professional Fijian rugby player Saimoni ?Vunilagi, 26, died after suffering suspected heatstroke during training with his team in southern Japan, the side said in a statement ?on Saturday.
The back rower was ?sent to ?the hospital on Monday with symptoms ?consistent with severe heatstroke after training with his Fukuoka-based Kyushu Electric Power ?Kyuden Voltex ¡ªknown as Kyushu KV. He passed ?away on Friday morning, the club said.
Japan has experienced an ?intense heatwave in ?recent weeks, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius ?in some ?cities in what the government ?has newly designated as a ¡°brutally hot ?day.¡±
¡°Although ?Saimoni had only recently joined Kyushu KV, his generous spirit and powerful style of play had raised high ?hopes for his contributions in the upcoming season,¡± said the club, which plays in Â鶹´«Ã½ second division.
¡°We humbly pray for the ?repose ?of his soul and extend ?our heartfelt condolences to his bereaved ?family,¡± the club added.
Â鶹´«Ã½ national side narrowly lost to Australia on Saturday in a muggy evening match in ?Osaka. The teams stopped for mandatory water breaks midway through both halves due to the extreme conditions.
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