Andy paid an emotional tribute to his brother following the tragedyNews
Tom Coleman Sports Writer
12:56, 31 Mar 2025
Andy Rinomhota with his brother Joe, who has died at the age of 30(Image: Insta: andyrinomhota)
A man has died suddenly at the age of 30 after reportedly collapsing in the wake of his first Muay Thai fight in Thailand. Joe Rinomhota, brother of Cardiff City player Andy Rinomhota, was making his debut at the Samui International Muay Thai Stadium, in Koh Samui, Surat Thani province on Friday night.
According to Thai outlet Khaosod English, the fight was stopped in the third round at around 9.30pm after Rinomhota received a kick to his ribs. According to reports, Joe was able to leave the ring on his own but began to experience laboured breathing before he collapsed.
His coach is reported to have attempted CPR at the scene while waiting for the emergency services. Joe was pronounced dead at around 11pm on Friday. A report from superintendent Col. Den Duang Thongsrisuk of Bo Phut confirmed police were notified shortly afterwards, Wales Online reports.
Paying tribute, Andy described his brother as the “most driven and positive minded person” who “lived life to the fullest”. In a post on his official Instagram page on Monday, Andy shared a series of pictures, including one of his brother in front of a promotional poster for the fight.
He said: “Nothing could’ve prepared me for what’s happened and no words or pictures are going to be enough to show or express the love I have and will always have for you my brother.
“I’m hoping this will help to heal the pain even if only slightly. You were the most driven and positive minded person I know, always pushing for more and never settling for the minimum, always looking for that next thing to try and achieve.
“You lived life to the fullest and I know you’d have no regrets even now. As a brother they don’t come better than you, caring, kind, supportive, the list is endless, you always looked after me in every way possible and I should’ve told you more just how much that meant to me.
“‘Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us everyday’ I know you’ll continue to watch over me and provide me with the strength and love you always have. You’ll be with me doing the things we had planned to do together, you will always be in my heart and never forgotten.”