Autopsy finds Hyron Andrews died after tear in aorta at team hotel ahead of Champions Cup match
Hyron Andrews, the 31-year-old second row who had joined the Johannesburg-based Lions this summer, was found dead at his new team's hotel in La Rochelle before a Champions Cup match on Saturday, and an autopsy has concluded he died of natural causes after a tear in the aorta.
Andrews had previously played for Sale, joining the club midway through the 2023-24 season and spending two and half seasons with the Sharks before his move this year to the Lions. The former Sale lock had been preparing to play in France with his new side when he was discovered unconscious. The autopsy findings were released as his family and clubs issued statements and matches went ahead with tributes.
The post-mortem identified a tear in the aorta, the artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. That rupture allowed blood to fill the muscle sac surrounding his heart. Medical comment in the report described a tear in the aorta as a rare and dangerous condition.
Investigators found Andrews unconscious in a shower cubicle at the team hotel and were initially exploring several possibilities. They said they were working on the theory he had either suffered a fall, a heart attack or, as the autopsy showed, an aneurysm. The report noted an aneurysm is where a bulging blood vessel breaks.
The autopsy material explained possible causes of an aortic tear, stating it can be caused by undetected high blood pressure or a birth defect. No additional causes beyond those cited in the findings were reported in the statement summarising the autopsy. The medical detail formed the basis for the coroner's determination of natural causes.
Andrews' team-mates decided to play their scheduled Champions Cup fixture against La Rochelle on Saturday in his honour. The visitors were applauded into the Stade Marcel-Deflandre by home fans, and several Lions players were visibly in tears during a minute's silence before kick-off.
Sale also paid tribute to Andrews; the club with whom he spent two and half seasons released a statement including a comment from director of rugby Alex Sanderson that his team "to a man, loved playing with Hyron and being around him".
His body is yet to be returned to his native South Africa, and the Lions said his wife Maighlin, with whom he had two young sons, has asked for "respect, privacy and patience during this difficult time as the repatriation process begins".