Footy is thrown into shock as AFL star Cam McCarthy dies aged just 29 after battling mental health issues during his career
AFL star Cam McCarthy has died at the age of 29, throwing the footy world into mourning.
Emergency services, including paramedics and police, were called to Lake Coogee in the southern part of Perth around 6.15 pm on Thursday. On arrival, they found a 29-year-old man dead.
‘Upon arrival, it was confirmed a 29-year-old male was deceased,’ police said.
‘The death is being treated as non-suspicious. A report will be prepared for the coroner.’
Former AFL star Cam McCarthy has died at the age of 29 in Perth under non-suspicious circumstances
The sudden death of McCarthy at such a young age has left footy fans shocked and in mourning
McCarthy famously walked out on the GWS Giants and sat out a season before continuing his career at Fremantle
McCarthy was drafted by the Giants with pick No.14 in 2013 and managed one game in his debut season.
He played a total of 49 games for the Fremantle Dockers and 21 games for the Greater Western Sydney Giants, having been drafted from South Fremantle as the 14th pick in 2013.
He made headlines when he left the Giants at the end of the 2015 season, sitting out the last year of his contract before being traded to Fremantle.
McCarthy was granted indefinite leave by the Giants in January, 2016 to be closer to family as he battled a mental health condition.
That came after he requested a trade to Fremantle during the 2015 trade period which was denied by the Giants.
He went on to have a breakthrough season that year, kicking 35 goals, but did not play a single game in 2016.
McCarthy’s time at Fremantle ended toward the end of the 2020 season, when he was told he would not have his contract extended
McCarthy would go on to play 49 games for the Dockers after finally getting traded
GWS had hoped that McCarthy would return to the club after his medical leave
The sudden death of the former GWS and Fremantle star has shocked footy fans.
‘Not going to lie,this news has been really hard to take … Can’t imagine what his family and friends are going though, one posted.
‘Just horrendous news about Cam McCarthy, thinking about everyone around him and effected by this news,’ added another.
‘In disbelief right now, this is unbelievably sad to see. Talented footballer, I still vividly remember his 1st goal in Round 23 2014. 29 is way too young,’ another stunned fan posted.
McCarthy is the fourth Fremantle player to die young in the last eight years.
Shane Yarran was found dead in his Seville Grove home in 2018 after he died by suicide when he was just 28.
Harley Balic died in January 2022, days after his 25th birthday, after documented battles with drug addiction, anxiety and other mental health issues.
And Colin Sylvia was killed in a car accident at the age of just 32 in 2018.
More to come…
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