The Perth Football club has announced star ruckman Dakota Baldwin-Wright has died overseas at the age of 25.
The Western Australian Football League has also confirmed the talented footballer died as a result of a train incident in Prague, Czech Republic, while holidaying in Europe.
Baldwin-Wright was supposed to be on the trip of a lifetime while taking a 12-month holiday, The Western Australian first reported.
According to a Prague City Police statement, Baldwin-Wright was hit by a train around 6am on December 24.
“Despite the intensive braking of the train set, the train driver was unable to prevent a collision. According to criminologists, it was most likely an unfortunate accident,” police said.
According to police, the incident happened at the Vršovice Station, which is a 15-minute drive from the city’s famous Old Town tourist hot spot.
“Despite the intensive braking of the train set, the train driver was unable to prevent a collision. According to criminologists, it was most likely an unfortunate accident,” police said.
He died at the scene.
Channel 7 sport presenter Adrian Barich, who is also the president of the Perth Football Club, released a statement.
“The Perth Football Club is stunned, shocked and deeply saddened by the loss of our popular ruckman Dakota Baldwin-Wright,” Barich said.
“Dakota was an outstanding young man and was much admired and loved at the Perth Football Club. This is a terrible tragedy for Dakota’s loved ones and our deepest sympathies go out to them.
“His passing has also rocked our playing group as he was a respected member of our senior team.”
Baldwin-Wright’s family is now travelling to Prague to see their son, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian man who died in Prague,” a departmental spokesman said.
“We send our condolences to his family during this difficult time. Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.”
Baldwin-Wright played 44 games for the Demons over six seasons.
