Cardiff City star's brother killed at 30 in Thai boxing match
The devastating incident happened in Thailand on Friday night
The brother of Cardiff City player Andy Rinomhota has tragically died at the age of 30 after reportedly collapsing in the wake of his first Muay Thai fight in Thailand.
Joe Rinomhota, brother of Bluebirds star Andy, was making his debut at the Samui International Muay Thai Stadium, in Koh Samui, Surant Thani province on Friday night.
According to Thai outlet Khaosod English, the fight was stopped in the third round at around 9.30pm after Rinomhota received a kick to his ribs. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.
Reports claim he was able to leave the ring on his own but began to experience laboured breathing before he collapsed. His coach is reported to have attempted CPR at the scene while waiting for the emergency services.
He was sadly pronounced dead at around 11pm and a report from superintendent Col. Den Duang Thongsrisuk of Bo Phut confirmed police were notified shortly afterwards.
In a touching tribute posted on his official Instagram on Monday, Andy posted a series of pictures, including one of his brother in front of a promotional poster for the fight. He said: "Nothing could’ve prepared me for what’s happened and no words or pictures are going to be enough to show or express the love I have and will always have for you my brother.
"I’m hoping this will help to heal the pain even if only slightly. You were the most driven and positive minded person I know, always pushing for more and never settling for the minimum, always looking for that next thing to try and achieve.
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"You lived life to the fullest and I know you’d have no regrets even now.
"As a brother they don’t come better than you, caring, kind, supportive, the list is endless, you always looked after me in every way possible and I should’ve told you more just how much that meant to me. ‘Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us everyday’ I know you’ll continue to watch over me and provide me with the strength and love you always have.
"You’ll be with me doing the things we had planned to do together, you will always be in my heart and never forgotten."
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office told WalesOnline: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Thailand and are in contact with the local authorities.”