John Cooney has died at the age of 28 after suffering a bleed to the brain during a boxing match.
The tragic death of the super-featherweight boxer was confirmed by his manager on Saturday. He was rushed to Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, where it was confirmed he suffered the medical episode during the defence of his Celtic super-featherweight title against Nathan Howells at the Ulster Hall last Saturday night.
Belfast Live reports that Mr Cooney underwent immediate surgery to relieve the pressure on his brain but remained in a critical condition during the past week.
His manager, Mark Dunlop, said in a statement: “It is with complete devastation that we have to announce that after a week of battling for his life John Cooney has sadly passed away. Mr and Mrs Cooney and his fiancée Emmaleen would like to thank the staff at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital who have worked tirelessly to save John’s life and for everyone who has sent messages of support and prayers.
“He was a much loved son, brother and partner and It will take us all a lifetime to forget how special he was. RIP John ‘The Kid’ Cooney.”
Mr Dunlop appeared on The Nolan Show on Radio Ulster on Tuesday afternoon to offer a health update on the Clarinbridge boxer.
He told host Stephan Nolan: “He has a bleed to the brain and he had an operation to relieve the pressure that was caused by swelling in the brain that was caused by the bleed. So he is now in intensive care in the Royal Victoria Hospital.”
Nolan then asked the boxing promoter: “Are you saying to me the medical professionals have said the next 24 hours are critical?” “Yes, that’s how bad this is,” Dunlop replied. Friends of the young Galway boxer, known as “The Kid”, established a GoFundMe page. The campaign, approved by the boxer’s family and management, was aimed to provide financial assistance.
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