Tragic twist as athlete dies just days after arriving in Australia – as police speak out about what happened
New details have emerged after a young Irishman died suddenly last weekend, just two days after arriving in Australia.
Matthew McGuigan and his partner Clodagh Corr had flown into Sydney on Thursday evening and were due to spend at least six months in the country.
But on Saturday, police were called to an Eastgardens apartment after reports that “a 24-year-old man was experiencing a medical episode.”
“The man … was taken to Prince of Wales Hospital but he died a short time later,” a NSW Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Initial investigations indicate the death was not suspicious and a report is being prepared for the coroner.’
Sydney’s Irish community will come together to remember Mr McGuigan at a memorial mass on Thursday evening.
The close-knit ex-pat community, which is largely based in the city’s eastern beach districts, will meet at St Brigid’s Catholic Church in Coogee at 6.30pm.
Sydney’s Irish community will gather on Thursday evening to remember 24-year-old Matthew McGuigan, who died suddenly on Saturday, just two days after arriving in Australia
The Sydney-based Cormac McAnallens Gaelic Football Club, which Mr McGuigan was due to play for, announced on Facebook that the mass “will pay our respects to Matthew and support the entire Irish community”.
The Irish government is offering assistance to McGuigan’s family through its consulate in Sydney.
The talented athlete played under-18s for Tyrone in the Irish Football Championship.
The province’s Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) said: ‘Matty’s contributions to his team were nothing short of extraordinary, and his legacy as a player will forever be etched in the hearts of those who were privileged to witness his prowess at the field.
“His dedication to the game and his unwavering spirit have undoubtedly left an indelible mark on Kildress Wolfe Tones and the wider community in Tyrone.
“We send our deepest condolences to the McGuigan and Treacy families, to Matthew’s partner and friends,” Tyrone GAA wrote.
Mr McGuigan’s older brother Darragh paid tribute on social media, saying: ‘Forever young, love you forever.
‘I am very grateful to have had you as a brother for 27 years of my life. I don’t know how this happened or why – I will never understand.’
Matthew McGuigan (pictured) was a talented athlete, who played both Gaelic football and soccer
A candlelight vigil has been held for Irishman Matthew McGuigan (left), who tragically died on Saturday, just two days after he and his girlfriend Clodagh Corr (right) moved to Sydney.
Dominic McGurk, chairman of Kildress Wolfe Tones, told the newspaper Belfast Live publication that the entire community was ‘devastated’.
“Matty has been our senior captain for the last two years, he was our leader at 24 years old. He became captain at just 22 years old,” he said.
‘Last Sunday he was manager of our minor team (under 18 years), and he was also on the committee. He was just a real leader.”
A prayer vigil for the man known as Matty was held in Gortacladdy, County Tyrone, on Monday evening, led by Catholic priest Father Paddy Hughes.
Father Hughes told the Belfast Newsletter that there will ‘probably be a post-mortem’ for Mr McGuigan in Sydney before his body can be sent home.
“Everyone I’ve spoken to in the parish has had great things to say about Matty,” Father Hughes said.
An Irish charity called the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust is helping the McGuigan family get his remains back to Ireland.
“Please know that everyone is welcome with open arms and hearts during this difficult time,” said the club, for which McGuigan was due to play.
Mr McGurk said that after arriving in Sydney, Mr McGuigan and his Mrs Corr ‘sent photos home to their family standing outside together in the sunshine in Australia’.
Matty McGuigan, who died in Sydney on Saturday two days after arriving from Australia, is pictured with his brother Darragh
Matty McGuigan is pictured with his girlfriend Clodagh Corr. The young Irish couple arrived in Sydney on Thursday, but McGuigan tragically died on Saturday
The couple planned to spend at least six months in Australia to experience a new way of life.
“As much as we didn’t want him to go because he was our captain, it’s nice for people to get out and enjoy life,” McGurk said.
“We didn’t know he would come home under these circumstances.”
As well as Gaelic football, Mr McGuigan also played football for his local club Cookstown Olympic.
“Matty was a fantastic footballer and an even better person,” the football club said in a statement.
a GoFundme A friend of the McGuigan family’s appeal for help had already raised almost fourteen times the target by Wednesday afternoon, with more than 1,300 people donating.
‘No words can express my sadness and grief when I heard the terrible news of Matty’s passing… I know there is nothing we can do to take away the pain, but I hope that by setting up this page it will help,’ said the friend.
Many tributes to Mr McGuigan have used the Irish language expression: ‘Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal’.
The direct translation is ‘may his holy soul be at the right hand of God’ and is used as the Irish version of rest in peace.