By 3 News online staff
Netball star Irene van Dyk played hard to help her team to win last night despite her mother dying just hours before.
The Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic shooter, 40, found out early yesterday that her mother had lost her battle with cancer at home in South Africa, Fairfax reports.
But she still turned out to play last night’s ANZ championship match against the Northern Mystics.
“I knew Mum would have wanted me to carry on with last night’s game," said van Dyk. “She has always been a huge supporter of my netball and I wanted to win last night’s game for her.”
She says it was “possibly the toughest day of my life” but she felt comforted that her mother, also called Irene, had died in her sleep and was free from pain.
Magic won the match 57-48, with van Dyk’s teammates giving her support throughout the game. They will now face the Vixens in the final in Melbourne on Sunday. Van Dyk will play in that game before flying to South Africa on Monday morning.
“I have to see this through and the family back home are also very supportive,” said van Dyk.
Her mother will be buried in Meyerton at the end of next week.
Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic chief executive Sheryl Dawson described van Dyk as a “consummate professional” and said the team was “blessed with such a strong and amazing player”.
3 News