Sick player feared for life after identical illness killed teammate
A New Zealand wheelchair basketball player says he feared for his life when he learned his ill teammate died just hours after returning from a tournament in Thailand.
Kauri Ezra Murray, 21, was in Waitakere Hospital’s Accident and Emergency when he heard that Teremoana Tuakana, 34, had died in Middlemore Hospital.
Murray said both of them had suffered from “food poisoning-type symptoms” after the competition in Thailand.
The New Zealand Roller Blacks side stayed in Suphan Buri, two hours north of Bangkok, and went out for local Thai food and liquor after their final game.
“We were not allowed to drink during the tournament but went out once it was over,” Murray said.
They also had various street food, including a meat barbecue.
On the flight back, Murray said both he and Tuakana felt nauseous, developed a fever and started having diarrhoea.
“We thought it’s just a little bit of food poisoning that would go away, but it got worse after we arrived back in Auckland,” he said.
Tuakana was taken to Middlemore Hospital after they landed in Auckland and Murray followed when his symptoms worsened.
“We were suffering from the same stomach bug, so I was really worried when I heard that Tere died from it,” Murray said.
“But I think what hit us must be a lot more than just from the food and drink.”
A coroner confirmed that an infection caused Tuakana’s death, but what caused the infection remains a mystery.
“Me and the boys were just shattered and shocked at Tere’s death.
“We just can’t believe he’s gone.”
Murray said he and Tuakana were close mates, and they would often hang out at Tuakana’s house after training.
“I really want to extend my condolences to Kalina and the kids, the pain of the loss must be a hundred times worse for them.”
Murray wrote on his Facebook page: “I was in A&E trying to fight my way out of this and I’m shattered to bits that you didn’t make it. Seeing you on the front page of the newspaper was hard enough to hold back the tears. A nightmare that none of us from the national squad and the country that plays this sport with you can ever wake up from . . . Gonna miss you man!”
Murray said all Roller Blacks team members will be attending Tuakana’s funeral on Monday.
A memorial service, open to the public, will also be held at PGM Church in Ponsonby at 6pm on Sunday.