Rugby player with heart disease ‘died days after being discharged from hospital’

A PROFESSIONAL rugby player who died during a training session had been discharged from hospital just days earlier and told to take Ibuprofen for chest and neck pains.

Ian Williams, 27, who played for Doncaster Knights, was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition when he was at school, but was told he could continue to play rugby, a sport he was “passionate” about.

He collapsed at training on February 20, 2018 and died in hospital despite resuscitation attempts. An inquest at Doncaster Coroner’s Court heard that Mr Williams had bicuspid aortic valve disease.

His mother, Phillippa Williams, told the inquest in a statement that her son always complied with medical advice but had never had any further monitoring after his diagnosis at boarding school at the age of 14.

She said: “I believe he was always open about his and his family’s medical history and would follow medical advice.”

Mrs Williams said her “intelligent”,

“compassionate” and “larger than life” son had been interested in rugby from the age of two and had played since he was six years old.

The inquest heard that he went to training on February 16, despite spending the previous night in the accident and emergency department at hospital.

He came on as a substitute for around 20 minutes of a match the following day after which he said he felt “heavy” and was disappointed in himself for his performance.

On the day of his death, he attended training but “fell to his knees” and collapsed as he made his way to the pitch. A post-mortem examination found that Mr Williams’ heart condition contributed to his death. The inquest continues.