Footballer reveals heartbreaking final text to his brother before he died at the age of 30 after suffering injury in first Muay Thai fight

• Andy Rinomhota’s brother died after participating in his first Muay Thai fight
• The Cardiff midfielder paid tribute to his brother in a post on his social media
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By ADRIAN BISHOP

Cardiff City midfielder Andy Rinomhota has paid tribute to his brother after he tragically passed away at the age of 30.

Joseph Itai Rinomhota died after being stopped in his first Muay Thai kickboxing bout on Friday.

In a post shared to his Instagram account, the Zimbabwe international shared a tribute to his late brother.

He wrote: ‘Nothing could’ve prepared me for what’s happened and no words or pictures are going to be enough to show or express the love I have and will always have for you my brother. 

‘I’m hoping this will help to heal the pain even if only slightly. You were the most driven and positive minded person I know, always pushing for more and never settling for the minimum, always looking for that next thing to try and achieve. 

‘You lived life to the fullest and I know you’d have no regrets even now. 

Cardiff midfielder Andy Rinomhota paid tribute to his late brother after he passed away on Friday

Joseph Itai Rinomhota(right) died aged 30 after competing in his first Muay Thai fight in Thailand

Joseph was rushed to hospital after collapsing following his debut on the Thai island of Koh Samui

‘As a brother they don’t come better than you, caring, kind, supportive, the list is endless, you always looked after me in every way possible and I should’ve told you more just how much that meant to me. 

‘”Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us everyday” I know you’ll continue to watch over me and provide me with the strength and love you always have. 

‘You’ll be with me doing the things we had planned to do together, you will always be in my heart and never forgotten.’

In addition to his touching eulogy, Rinomhota also shared of series of pictures of the pair dating back to their childhood.

The former Reading star also shared a screenshot of a message he sent Joseph on the day of his kickboxing debut, wishing him luck just hours before the tragic incident occurred.

After a back-and-forth contest, on Friday night the referee stopped the contest in the third round after Rinomhota reportedly sustained a series of kicks to the body from his opponent.

The 30-year-old was able to leave the ring and removed his gloves, but fell unwell while taking off his hand wraps according to a report from local news outlet, Khaosod English.

In a post on Instagram Andy called Joseph ‘the most driven and positive minded person I know’

The Zimbabwe international added that his older brother ‘will always be in my heart’

Andy also shared a screenshot of a message he sent Joseph to wish him good luck before the fight

He experienced muscle tension, while his breathing became laboured and his eyes were rolling, according to witnesses.

Rinomhota remained conscious, but just moments later he collapsed, with his heart having reportedly stopped.

His trainer is said to have given him CPR until emergency services arrived and took him to Thai International Hospital, just under two miles away from the venue on the island of Koh Samui.

Despite their efforts, Rinomhota was tragically pronounced dead at 11pm.

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Footballer reveals heartbreaking final text to his brother before he died at the age of 30 after suffering injury in first Muay Thai fight

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