Fiji rugby player dies in Japan of suspected heatstroke as high of 35C hit

Saimoni Vunilagi was hospitalised with symptoms of heatstroke aft rugby squad grooming connected Monday, but died connected Friday.

A Fijian rugby subordinate with a Japanese nonrecreational squad has died aft being taken to infirmary with “symptoms accordant with terrible heatstroke”, Saimoni Vunilagi’s nine said connected Saturday.

Second-division broadside Kyushu KV said 26-year-old Vunilagi was taken to infirmary successful the confederate metropolis of Fukuoka aft a squad signifier connected Monday, and died connected Friday morning.

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Temperatures reached a precocious of 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) successful Fukuoka connected Monday.

Vunilagi, a backmost enactment guardant who stood 196cm (6ft5in) and weighed 117kg (258lb), attended assemblage successful Japan and began his nonrecreational vocation successful 2023.

“The players, staff, and each squad associates are devastated by this abrupt news,” the nine said successful a statement.

“Although Saimoni had lone precocious joined Kyushu KV, his generous tone and almighty benignant of play had raised precocious hopes for his contributions successful the upcoming season.

“We humbly commune for the repose of his psyche and widen our heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family.”

Japan sweltered done its hottest summertime connected grounds past year, and parts of the state person deed 40C (104F) successful caller weeks.

Close to 18,600 radical were taken to infirmary for heatstroke betwixt July 20 and 26, with 45 of them pronounced dormant connected arrival, according to the occurrence and catastrophe absorption agency.

Japan experiences astir 1,300 heat-related deaths annually and is aiming to halve that fig by 2030.

Three lions astatine a Tokyo zoo died from suspected heatstroke, and others are nether treatment, a spokeswoman said this week.

Scientists accidental human-induced clime alteration is expanding the frequence and strength of utmost vigor events successful Japan and elsewhere.

The country’s highest recorded somesthesia of 41.8C (107F) was registered connected August 5, 2025, successful Isesaki, northbound of Tokyo.

Authorities person adjusted the timing of respective taste and sporting events successful caller years due to the fact that of the heat, including the World Cosplay Summit successful Nagoya, which held its last summertime variation past weekend.