Former Bok Wium Basson dies of cancer

Published Apr 22, 2001

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Former Springbok lock Wium Basson died at his Pretoria home yesterday. He was 25.

Basson, who played for the Blue Bulls, was diagnosed with terminal cancer late last month.

Doctors could not do anything to help him and gave him a few weeks to live.

Basson flew to Lagos, Nigeria, to consult a faith healer, TB Joshua, who was reputed to have healed a range of illnesses, and had helped rehabilitate former Springbok flyhalf Jaco van der Westhuizen, who had torn knee ligaments.

Basson undertook the pilgrimage to The Synagogue with 130 other South Africans who had various illnesses. He returned disappointed on Friday. Although he had queued for hours, the faith healer did not see him.

Basson had played 48 games for the Bulls and toured with the Boks to Argentina, France and England in 1998, but his career was ended abruptly by a serious neck injury last season.

Basson was the third Blue Bulls player to have been hit by a life-threatening illness in the past six months.

Bok lock Krynauw Otto's career was ended in August by bleeding on the brain, while Reuben Kruger is being treated for a brain tumour. - Own Correspondent

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