A coroner has ruled that Highlanders and Māori All Blacks player Connor Garden-Bachop, a 25-year-old father of young twin girls, died of natural causes.
Garden-Bachop died overnight on June 16, 2024, while staying at the Christchurch home of his aunt and uncle.
He retired for the night “well and happy” at 10.30pm and was found dead in his bed at 5pm the next day.
His death was referred to Coroner Mary-Anne Borrowdale.
Her findings can now be published.
She said a post-mortem examination determined that Garden-Bachop was not injured in any way, and he had not consumed any drugs or alcohol.
He had a “slightly stretched” heart – also known as a dilated heart.
“Death can occur when the heart develops an abnormal heartbeat, then stops,” Coroner Borrowdale said.
“He had no history of seizure but had suffered episodic concussion during his professional rugby career, most recently in May 2024.
“Seizures cannot be observed on post-mortem examination. However ... with no seizure history – and an abnormal heart – a seizure as the sole cause of death was less likely.
“The cause of Mr Garden-Bachop’s death was therefore given as sudden death in the context of a mildly dilated heart.”
Coroner Borrowdale said Garden-Bachop’s death was referred to the Cardiac Inherited Diseases Group to test for any possible genetic cause for his “sudden cardiac death”.
“Extensive tests were made, but no genetic abnormality or genetic cause of death was identified,” she said.
“I am satisfied that Mr Garden-Bachop died of the above natural cause and that there are no suspicious circumstances attaching to his death.”
Coroner Borrowdale said she could not pinpoint Garden-Bachop’s exact time of death.
“I am unable to be more specific than that death occurred on 16 or 17 June 2024,” she explained.
“Mr Garden-Bachop’s last cellphone use was just after 11pm on 16 June. His alarm clock was heard to sound repeatedly at 9.30am on 17 June, which suggests that he may by this time have been deceased.
“However, as his body was not discovered until later that day, I must give the date of his death as 16-17 June 2024.”
Garden-Bachop was the son of former All Black Stephen Bachop and Black Fern Sue Garden-Bachop.
The Garden-Bachop whānau provided a statement saying they are pleased the final coroner’s report is completed.
“On behalf of the family we’d like to thank everyone for the continued love and support in relation to Connor,” it read.
“We miss Connor every day, and will continue to try and honour and emulate all that he was in the way we live our lives.”
Today, the New Zealand Māori Rugby Board, Māori All Blacks, Highlanders, Wellington Rugby and New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association issued a statement: “During this difficult time, we would like to acknowledge the Garden-Bachop whānau and extend our thoughts and love as we pause to remember Connor as the loving partner, father, brother, son and friend he was to everyone who knew him. Connor was an extremely gifted young man who remains dearly missed by his teammates, coaches and the wider New Zealand rugby community.”
At the time of his death, he was a member of the Highlanders’ Super Rugby Pacific squad.
“Connor was a fantastic young player, an exciting New Zealand age-grade representative and a proud Māori All Black,” a joint statement from New Zealand Rugby, the New Zealand Māori Rugby Board, Highlanders, Wellington Rugby and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association said, a day after he died.
“Wherever he played, he was a committed and popular teammate with infectious energy and someone who could light up the room.
”Most importantly, he was a loving father to his twin girls, a brother, a son, and immeasurably loved by all those who knew him.”
In September, Garden-Bachop’s brother Jackson – also a professional rugby player – spoke out about the tragedy.
“There’s a hanging sadness that’s going to be there forever,” he said.
“It’s just learning to allow yourself to be happy. It’s something we talk about a lot as a family. I hope as time goes on, it’ll become easier to allow those moments to feel joyous.”
Jackson Garden-Bachop said the family received a “pretty overwhelming” number of messages after his brother died.
“But I think it was well deserved,” he said.
“He left a lasting impression on everyone he met, whether it was one time or if he knew them for years. He was always himself.”
Connor Garden-Bachop made his debut for the Highlanders in 2021 and made seven appearances for the side in the season before he died.
He attended Scots College in Wellington and made his provincial debut for Wellington against Canterbury in 2018, playing alongside his brother Jackson in a Ranfurly Shield challenge win over Hawke’s Bay in 2022 before winning the NPC title later that season.
His Super Rugby debut came in 2021 against the Crusaders.