Fijian Rugby Player Saimoni Vunilagi, 26, Dies After Suspected Heatstroke at Training in Japan
The 26-year-old forward was taken to hospital after practice as Fukuoka hit 35C, and Japan logged about 18,600 heatstroke hospitalizations last week, officials said.
- On Saturday, Kyushu Electric Power Kyuden Voltex announced that Fijian rugby player Saimoni Vunilagi, 26, died Friday morning after being hospitalized in Fukuoka with "symptoms consistent with severe heatstroke" following a Monday team practice.
- Temperatures in Fukuoka reached 35 degrees Celsius on Monday when Vunilagi participated in practice. Japan has sweltered through extreme heat recently, with parts of the country hitting 40 degrees Celsius.
- Previously playing for Tokyo Sungoliath, Vunilagi was a 196-centimeter, 117-kilogram back row forward. "The players, staff, and all team associates are devastated by this sudden news," Kyushu KV said in a statement.
- Around 18,000 people were hospitalized for heatstroke between July 20 and 26, with 45 deaths reported. Japan experiences about 1,300 heat-related deaths annually, prompting authorities to adjust event schedules.
- Scientists say human-induced climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events in Japan. The nation aims to halve its annual heat-related death toll by 2030 through ongoing public health measures.
43 Articles
43 Articles
The 26-year-old Rugbi player Saimoni Vunilagi died on Friday (7) after entering the hospital with "symptoms consistent with severe hyperthermia" or insolation, reported his Kyushu KV team on Saturday to AFP. Vunilagi, a native of Fiji, went badly after an outdoor training on Monday (3) and was taken to a hospital in Fukuoka. That day, the temperature reached 35oC in the city due to a strong heat wave that hit Japan. The 1.96 cm and 117 kg athlet…
Fijian rugby player dies in Japan of heatstroke
A Fijian rugby player with a Japanese professional team has died after being taken to hospital with “symptoms consistent with severe heatstroke,” Saimoni Vunilagi’s club said yesterday.Second-division side Kyushu KV said that 26-year-old Vunilagi was taken to hospital in the southern city of Fukuoka
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