Former Bok star Cornal Hendricks passes away

Former Boland and Bulls wing Cornal Hendricks has, according to several reports, passed away.

The 37 year old also played for the Springboks on 12 occasions.

The tall and powerful backline player is believed to have suffered a heart attack. He had been diagnosed some time ago with a heart ailment, which at times prevented him from playing.

ALSO READ: Tributes pour in after death of Bok winger Cornal Hendricks

Reports indicate he died on Wednesday evening.

Hendricks, who played mainly on the wing and then later in the centre, grew up in Wellington in the Boland, where he made a name for himself playing rugby. He later featured for the SA Sevens team, the Blitzboks, before continuing his career with the Cheetahs.

In 2014 he was picked for the Boks for the first time.

Heart condition

A year later he was diagnosed with a rare heart condition and told to quit the game. He did so, at the age of 27.

Hendricks though opted for a second opinion, got the all-clear and the Bulls gave him a second chance in 2017, where he flourished. He won the Currie Cup and the Super Rugby Unlocked titles with the team.

“I cannot tell you exactly what was wrong with my heart, but the medical message to me was crystal clear — stop playing rugby or face the possibility of cardiac arrest,” he told AFP in early 2019.

“Those were unbelievably dark days. I had played for the BlitzBokke (national Sevens team) and had hoped to be part of the team for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Instead, I stayed at my home, severely depressed and could not bear to watch those I once played alongside as they competed in Brazil.

“I continued to train, but motivating myself was extremely difficult because I felt all the hard work I was putting in had no purpose.”

He is survived by his wife and two children.