Rugby Community Mourns As Two Young Players, Aged 12 and 13, Pass Away Days Apart
- Treyvon Bradshaw, 13, and Kaiyah Kennedy, 12, both connected to the Coomera Cutters Rugby League Club, died within days of each other
- The club's president spoke out about the devastating impact on the team and the broader community following the two losses
- Fundraisers have been launched to support both families as the club calls for greater mental health resources for young athletes
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Two young rugby league players connected to the Coomera Cutters Rugby League Club have died within days of each other, prompting an outpouring of grief and renewed calls for mental health support in youth sport communities.
Treyvon Bradshaw, 13, died on 26 September, followed by Kaiyah Kennedy, 12, on 2 October. Treyvon was an active player at the club at the time of his death, while Kaiyah had previously represented the team. Both families were described as integral parts of the Coomera Cutters community.
Club president calls for greater mental health support
Coomera Cutters president Joe Smith addressed the losses publicly, describing the impact on the club and its members.
"It has really hurt our club and all their teammates; they were two of our own, and their families were part of our community," Smith told NewsWire.
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Smith, a father himself, said the tragedy had prompted deeper reflection on what more could be done.
"I have young kids myself so it has really got me thinking about what more can be done to raise awareness of mental health and support the local community," he said.
He also spoke to the broader role community sport plays in the lives of young people.
"At the end of the day, community sport is about community first. While some children may go on to the NRL, most of the boys just want to be a part of something, see their mates and play sport. Sometimes those two hours a week of training can be a break for them and their chance to let loose, play a bit of footy and be with their mates."
Smith said the club was actively seeking additional resources to respond to the situation.
"One life lost in this way is too many, let alone two, so we're trying to see if there's anything we can do as a club to help get things out there," he said.
Fundraisers launched for the families
A GoFundMe campaign established for Kaiyah's family described him as "a proud Aboriginal boy who deeply loved learning and being immersed in his culture" and "an absolute ball of energy and fun."
The campaign noted his parents, Breanna and Matt, and his two brothers, Malakai and Jojo, would need ongoing support.
"While we cannot take away their profound grief, we can lighten their load," the fundraiser read.
A separate fundraiser has also been set up for Treyvon Bradshaw's family.
Mondeor High School mourns hockey captain
Briefly News previously reported that Mondeor High School is mourning Kamohelo Makhetha, who captained the school's hockey team in 2023
The Johannesburg school shared an emotional tribute remembering Makhetha and saying his legacy would live on in the hearts of those who knew him
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Source: Briefly News
