Rugby star & dad-of-two Nick Koster took his own life aged just 34 at mental health clinic, court hears
RUGBY star and dad-of-two Nick Koster took his own life aged just 34, a court has heard.
The South African died in July 2023 while he was an inpatient at Priory Hospital in Attleborough, Norfolk.
Tributes remembered the flanker as a “remarkable” player and “one of the best schoolboy rugby players to have ever played the game”.
During a preliminary hearing in Norwich yesterday, the court heard Koster took his own life a day before he was due to be discharged.
Eastern Daily Press reported that during the preliminary hearing, his sister Terena, said there were “systemic concerns” in his mental health care that she hoped the inquest would explore.
She said: “I feel there are a lot of things that need to be understood about how his health continued to deteriorate and that is a systemic concern.”
Koster was only admitted to hospital a month earlier after he had struggled to see a NHS psychiatrist at the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.
Instead, Koster had turned to private healthcare.
He had earlier had an initial placement at a hospital in Chelmsford between May 10 and 24.
Area coroner Samantha Goward adjourned the case for a full inquest, which will be held for two days from October 1.
The inquest opened in January.
Koster played 62 matches for Bristol during an eight-year career as a flanker that started with the Stormers in Cape Town.
Last year, Bristol Bears released a statement paying tribute to the late rugby star.
“Our thoughts, prayers and love are with Nick’s wife Jeannie and his two young children,” read a Bristol statement.
It added that fan favourite Koster made “a remarkable impact on and off the field”.
Bath Rugby also paid tribute and said it was “deeply saddened” by Koster’s passing.
In a short statement on the club’s website, a spokesperson said: “He will be sorely missed and will always remain part of the Bath Rugby family.
“Rest in peace, Nick.”
You're Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,www.headstogether.org.uk
- HUMEN www.wearehumen.org
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans,www.samaritans.org, 116 123