Tribute paid to much-loved rugby coach who died with Covid after recovering from three cardiac arrests

Former club rugby coach and player Bryn Evans had no idea he had a heart condition until he fell, broke his femur and shattered his knee. Waiting for an operation to repair the injuries at the University Hospital of Wales, doctors realised Bryn had atrial fibrillation, an irregular and very rapid heart beat.

In the following 30 hours the much-loved family man and member of Whitchurch Rugby Club had three cardiac arrests, two of which were witnessed by his shocked wife Ginny. After that doctors warned surgery would be risky but the lifelong rugby player couldn’t bear the thought of not using his leg again and agreed to go ahead. The operation took place successfully with a cardiologist present and instant access to the cardiology department and intensive care.

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After six weeks Bryn was well enough to go home with an ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) fitted to keep his heart in a safe rhythm, and a monitor at home. But tragedy struck in November last year last when Bryn was admitted to hospital with coronavirus passing away just two days later.

Speaking publicly for the first time about the tragedy his widow, Virginia, known as Ginny, said the loss has been a huge shock to everyone who loved Bryn: “He went into hospital early one morning and passed two days later.

“We weren’t expecting it all, even Bryn thought he was coming home. It’s just so unfair after what he’d been through. He will be forever missed by everyone, there was still so much we wanted to do together.”

The much-loved member of the rugby fraternity, who was born in Whitchurch, had been jokingly telling people he died three times and couldn’t praise all the medical staff enough