YOUNG RUGBY STAR MOURNED DEATH OF TEEN ‘HAS RIPPED A HOLE IN HIS FAMILY’
MOURNERS at the funeral of a popular Co Tyrone teenager who died suddenly on Monday have heard that his tragic passing has “ripped a hole in his family who loved him dearly”.
Gifted sportsman Kyle Innes Whiteside (17), from Corick Road in Augher, played for Clogher Valley Rugby Club, where he was remembered this week as “a great young man with a passion for sport”.
Posting on Facebook, the club said: “It’s with a sense of shock and sadness that everyone at CVRFC are mourning the sudden death of Kyle Whiteside.
“Kyle has been a player with Clogher Valley since 2009 from the age of seven and played right through the minis and youth.”
The club said Kyle had played in the winning under-16 team at Kingspan in May last year, in the under-14 cup final at Ravenhill in 2015 and then won the under-14 plate final in 2016.
“He was under-16 player of the year in 2017,” the club added. “Kyle was a very valued member of the club and we pass our deepest condolences to his mum Kathy, dad Innes and brothers Morgan and Ryan who both also have played for Clogher Valley.”
An apprentice electrician, Mr Whiteside was a past pupil of Carntall Primary School and Fivemiletown College who enjoyed fishing, playing rugby and helping out at the annual Clogher Valley Show.
He was laid to rest in Clogher yesterday following his funeral service in Carntall Presbyterian Church where Rev Edwin Frazer paid tribute to “a young man loved so much by so many”.
Rev Frazer told the congregation: “Kyle was a very kind, loving gentle young man who was always smiling and had such a dry sense of humour.
“He was always playing practical jokes on his brothers who he thought the world of and them of him.
“He was also a very appreciative young man, always being very grateful for anything that was done or bought for him.
“Like most young men of his age he was learning to drive and had his black VW Golf, his pride and joy, ready for the road.
“He hoped to have passed his driving test in a few weeks’ time.
“Kyle had a very wide circle of friends who will miss him very much.
“Kyle’s death has ripped a hole in his family who loved him dearly.
“To say that he will be dearly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him, whilst absolutely true, cannot even begin to adequately explain just how much he will be missed.
“The family have asked me to convey their heartfelt thanks to Dungannon PSNI, the Ambulance Service, the consultants, doctors and nurses in A&E and Critical Care in South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen.
Rev Frazer added: “They would also like to thank their family and friends for their support and comforting words at this difficult time.”