Maximas Easey, 21, played for Hendy RFC and lived in the village in Carmarthenshire. He went missing from his home on Monday evening and his body was discovered later that night
A talented young rugby player described as a ‘star’ has been found dead just hours after he was reported missing.
Maximas Easey, 21, played for Hendy RFC and lived in the village in Carmarthenshire. He went missing from his home on Monday evening and his body was discovered later that night.
A message posted by his family on Facebook last night read: ‘Tonight as a family we lost our brother, best friend and a son. You closed your eyes for the last time. It still doesn’t feel real.
‘We LOVE you so much and will forever I’ll never forget you please be at peace I love you so so much I wished you knew that I miss you already it hurts! Until we meet again.’
Last night welsh rugby team the Ospreys paid tribute to Mr Easey on their Facebook page, saying: ‘Everybody at the Ospreys has been saddened by today’s tragic news of the passing of former age-grade player Max Easey.
‘Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends at this difficult time.’
Hendy RFC vice chair Heidi Williams said the village had been rocked by the death.
She said: ‘He was my son’s best friend and was a real star. Alex and the boys from the club went out looking for him on Monday night and some lads from Swansea came to help too.
‘Maximas was loved in the village and played for Hendy, but had been injured for the last year. It’s a huge shock to us all because he was such a talent and an excellent player.
The talented young rugby player was found dead just hours after he was reported missing
‘He was a bit of a boy as all 21-year-olds are but he was a star. He and my son Alex grew up together and even played against each other in different teams, as well as together for Hendy.
‘He had started a course at Swansea University before Christmas too. ‘It’s been awful here since we found out and it is such a sad loss.’
Balloons were released last night on the pitch in Hendy in memory of Mr Easey.
A former pupil of Hendy primary school, he then went to secondary school at Ysgol Gyfun y Strade in Llanelli and Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr in Gowerton.
Balloons were released last night on the pitch in Hendy in memory of Mr Easey
His passion for rugby saw him play in the flanker position at Hendy RFC but he also enjoyed stints with the Ospreys under 18s and for Swansea RFC before injury saw him return to Hendy.
Along with tributes from Mrs Williams, Hendy RFC posted on the club’s Facebook page giving their condolences and stating: ‘Very sad news. Our thoughts are with Maximas’s family.’
Flowers have been left outside Hendy RFC in memory of the talented young player
County councillor for the village Gareth Thomas said: ‘This is a tragedy for his family and for the community as a whole.
‘It is terrible to hear that someone has passed away, especially a young person.’
‘My thoughts and the thoughts of Hendy are with his family at what is an awful time.’
Dyfed-Powys Police said ‘We received a report of a 21-year-old man missing from his home in the Hendy area on the evening of February 12.
‘Sadly, he was found deceased a short while later. Our thoughts are with his family.’
‘His next of kin and HM coroner have been informed, and police are not treating the death as suspicious.’
One of his friends has launched a JustGiving page to raise money for the Samaritans in memory of Mr Easey.
For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, or see samaritans.org for details.