Parents make heartbreaking decision

Family of a talented teenage rugby league player has made the heartbreaking decision to switch off his life support.

The family have said “he loved football, his team, his friends, team mates and gave his best every time he played”.

9 News reports, Lui Polimeni, 15, collapsed on the field while playing for the Gundagai Tigers on Sunday, reportedly suffering massive stroke symptoms, and was airlifted to Canberra Hospital.

The Polimeni’s, who live in the village of Jugiong, decided on Wednesday to switch off his life support.

Family and friends are keeping a vigil at Lui’s bedside.

The club posted on its Facebook page on Wednesday that Lui “fought a great battle but was not able to recover”.

Lui will be remembered as a talented sportsperson, a great mate and a beloved son and brother, the club said.

He was a popular student at Murrumburrah Public School, where students are in mourning.

The school’s principal said the Year 10 boy was “adored and loved” and counselling has been offered to students.

Tributes are flooding in on social media to the young NRL player from friends and the local community.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Lui Polimeni from the Gundagai Tigers,” the Penrith Panthers tweeted.

Our deepest condolences to the family.

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21 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 24 May 2021
    11:23 am
I remember when I was at Primary school that one of the boys in my class lost his little brother to a rugby injury. It was so very sad.

- - mom172741 said
  - 15 Jun 2016
    4:58 pm
A parent’s worst nightmare outliving their child. It is too hard to think about having to make a decision to turn off life support. My heart goes out to them.

- - ella12 said
  - 15 Jun 2016
    4:26 pm
This is just so very tragic.

- - tessie said
  - 06 Jun 2016
    5:56 pm
What a terrible decision they have had to make. Hope they know in their hearts that it was the right decision to make. Deepest sympathy to them both and other family and friends

- - shilto02 said
  - 05 Jun 2016
    2:16 pm
So heartbreaking for this family. Something no parent should ever have to go through.

- - rovermum said
  - 30 May 2016
    10:19 am
Such a tragedy and heartbreaking for the family and local community. My thoughts are with them.

- - mom19782016 said
  - 29 May 2016
    8:39 pm
Thoughts and prayers to the family.

- - jodiev1980 said
  - 26 May 2016
    7:24 pm
Those poor poor people. They have had to make a decision none of us ever want to think about. So sad.

- - serotonin said
  - 26 May 2016
    11:43 am
I don’t even want to think about how hard it would be to make such a decision. Such a horrible tragedy, I feel awful for his family and friends.

- - rachelvk said
  - 26 May 2016
    10:59 am
What an awful situation to be in. My thoughts are with the family during this difficult time.

- - mom112217 said
  - 26 May 2016
    9:22 am
A very hard decision to make and my condolences to the family.

- - mom134803 said
  - 26 May 2016
    7:56 am
How awful !! and what a difficult decision to make for the family ! My thought and prayers go out to his family & friends.

- - mum4107 said
  - 26 May 2016
    5:47 am
How devastating for the family.
My thoughts are with you

- - june11 said
  - 25 May 2016
    10:21 pm
What a horrific decision to have to make, to stand by and watch your loved one pass away. Obviously he would have had no quality of life if any. I would hate to be in his parents position. He must have been pretty fit to be playing as in the photo above. I wonder if they will ever determine what caused the sudden onset of symptoms. I noticed he had his leg strapped so could he have had a clot travel up from it? I hope his family, football and school fraternities get counselling they need. Please respect the privacy of his parents and family but be there for them when they need it, most likely for 12 months or more. They say it can take a parent or spouse 12 months to pass through the initial grieving process. I can assure you, it is true.

- - mom101628 said
  - 25 May 2016
    9:50 pm
Such a hard decision to make – and only 15! RIP and my condolences to his parents.