A 20-year-old university rugby player has died after suffering an injury in a match and picking up an infection while she was being treated in hospital.
Family, friends and teammates paid tribute to Maddy Lawrence as a bubbly, talented young woman who loved the game.
She died more than two weeks after being taken to hospital with an injury while playing for UWE Bristol women’s second team against the University of Bristol’s women’s second team.
In a statement her family said: “Ever since Maddy started playing rugby at UWE she has loved every moment of it. During the last match of the season, she sustained an injury which was not at all life-threatening. She went into hospital and we believed that she should be home by the weekend.
“Tragically, she had picked up a bacterial infection that the acute team tried tirelessly to get under control. Maddy fought with every sinew in her body, through life-saving surgeries every single day of her stay in ICU.
“Her spirit and desire to live was so strong, as well as her heart and courage, that the medical teams were in awe of her and she never gave up that fight. So sadly on Friday 25 March, her body could take no more and we let her go, on to her next adventure with her adoring family by her side.”
They continued: “Maddy’s presence, bravery, spirit, goodness, sass, beauty and love will never be forgotten and is felt all around us and in us and always will be.”
Lawrence’s family said they planned to set up a charitable fund aimed at supporting women’s rugby and the mental wellbeing of young people. A fundraising page has been set up by a friend in her memory.
Her university said: “Everyone in the UWE Bristol community is profoundly shocked and saddened by the death of our student and talented UWE women’s rugby player.”
Tom Monks, the head of UWE Women’s rugby union, described Lawrence as “an absolute pleasure to coach”, adding: “She wanted to learn and appreciated every playing opportunity that her dedication warranted. Maddy’s beaming smile and warmth embodied the incredible bond we have.”
On Instagram, the club referred to her as “Maddy ‘Twinkle toes’ Lawrence” and said: “She proudly represented our club both on and off the rugby pitch, growing into the sport and our rugby family. Maddy was a bubbly girl who was so fun to be around. Whenever she smiled and laughed you couldn’t help but smile and laugh with her. That was the sort of player, friend, sister and daughter Maddy was.”
The club will retire the No 11 shirt she played as a mark of respect.
It had billed the match with Bristol as a “big rivalry game” and said there was a “lovely mix of abilities” in what was some players’ first game.
Women’s clubs across the country were expected to mark Lawrence’s death. Rocky Clark of Saracens rugby club said: “So sorry to hear this devastating news, my thoughts are with all her teammates, family and friends. A young life taken way too soon.”
