Tragedy strikes sports family

Kyle Horo. Photo / Supplied

The family of a prominent softball coach is in mourning after his son died suddenly in Thailand.

Softball New Zealand game development officer Cowley Harris was watching his youngest son Vinny Harris trial for the under-18 national baseball squad last week when he was told his 28-year-old son Kyle Horo had died.

Horo, originally from Raglan, moved to Sydney as a child with family members, including his cousin, Parramatta Eels rugby league star Justin Horo.

St Claire Comets Rugby League Club secretary Bill Borg said Horo was also a fine league player who represented the club in 117 games.

Horo was in Thailand during a two-week break from his job in the West Australian mines when he died this week.

"Just three weeks ago we were having a beer together and he was looking forward to coming home [to Sydney] to buy a house." Borg said.

"He was a gentle young man, he was easy to talk to and well liked by all his team mates."

Softball colleagues said Harris flew to Sydney for the funeral and would return home this evening to continue coaching.

Under-18 baseball coach Cola Yeh said brother Vinny had taken one day off training to be with family in Hamilton. He was expected to return yesterday to prepare for the Oceania Championships in Guam in less than two weeks.