Jonah fends off rumour of his death

By ELIZABETH BINNING

Jonah Lomu would like to clarify one thing - he is very much alive.

The All Black legend, who has a rare and serious kidney disorder, has posted a message on his website quashing a rumour that he is dead.

"Over the last few days there have been some strange rumours in the media that I have been critically ill and have passed away," he wrote.

"I've had emails from many of you asking if this is true. I just wanted to let you all know I am fine and that the rumours are untrue. Thanks for your concern and the emails."

Lomu's wife and manager, Fiona Lomu, told the Herald she was sitting on the couch with her husband when she was contacted about the strange rumour last week.

"We don't actually know where it came from," she said.

"As you can well imagine there are lots of bizarre rumours which go around. These sort of things start as Chinese whispers and they become what they become."

Lomu's doctor, John Mayhew, was one of the first people to be contacted about his patient's health. He fielded phone calls from an Australian radio station, a former All Black media liaison officer and former All Black physiotherapist David Abercrombie.

They all wanted to know if Lomu, who stormed on to the world stage during the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa, had died.

"My first instinct was God, has he had an accident," said Dr Mayhew, who also used to be the doctor for the All Blacks.

"The first call was from David Abercrombie and he wasn't going to have me on about it, so I rang Jonah immediately. We had a long chat and he was as good as gold."

Dr Mayhew said Lomu's condition, nephrotic syndrome, could be fatal if left untreated. "He's got a serious medical condition which is under control and not cured, but nothing worse than that.

"I've seen and spoken to him. It's not like Elvis ... "

Lomu, who last month travelled to Hong Kong to attend the rugby sevens tournament, is on the waiting list for a kidney transplant.

Several close friends are being tested for donor suitability.

Mrs Lomu said her husband, who is on daily dialysis, was doing fine.

"A lot of people were concerned around the world that he wasn't well and that he had passed away.

"We had quite a lot of messages and that was the reason for putting the note on his website to reassure people that he's absolutely fine. He's in great shape. He's in good health."

* The giant winger's biography - Jonah, My Story - is due for release next week.