South African star reveals horrific family emergency that forced him off against All Blacks
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Emergency.
The reason behind Hanro Liebenberg’s sudden withdrawal during the Bulls’ clash with the All Blacks has been revealed, with the South African forward rushing to hospital after his newborn daughter suffered a cardiac arrest.
Liebenberg started the match at Loftus Versfeld last month but was unexpectedly replaced after just 30 minutes, with the All Blacks eventually running out 50-19 winners.
At the time, however, the 30-year-old was dealing with a situation far more important than anything happening on the pitch.
Bulls management had received an urgent message informing Liebenberg that his baby daughter Liviah’s heart had stopped and that he needed to get to hospital.
Liviah had been born less than two weeks earlier with an interrupted aortic arch and two holes in her heart. She underwent open-heart surgery on the Monday before the game and remained in a fragile condition in the days that followed.
Liebenberg, who returned to South Africa this year following seven seasons in England with Leicester Tigers, has now spoken about the terrifying experience.
“She went in for open-heart surgery that Monday before the match,” Liebenberg told Rapport.
“She was up and down health-wise the whole week, because that kind of surgery places enormous stress on a baby.
“They needed me. It is also one of the reasons why I came back to South Africa from England – because my family comes first.
“Her little heart had stopped completely. They had to revive her and put her on life support. It was harrowing.”
Liebenberg and his wife Danielle feared the worst as they made their way to the hospital.
“My wife and I were ready to go and say goodbye to our daughter on the Sunday. We told ourselves we needed to make peace with it – that this was not meant for us.”
When they arrived at the hospital, however, doctors told the couple that Liviah was still fighting.
She remained in hospital for more than a month before finally being discharged last week, allowing her to return home and meet her one-year-old brother Lucah for the first time.
