Matthew Fitzgerald says he will “cherish” the memory of watching the Socceroos’ World Cup knockout clash against Egypt with his brother Nathan, who died on Monday after suffering horrific brain injuries during a local football match. Nathan, 27, was rushed to hospital after a head clash during Epping’s Northern Football Netball League division three reserves game against Lalor on Saturday. He underwent brain surgery but entered end-of-life care on Sunday.
Family Devastated by Sudden Loss
Speaking to 7NEWS on Tuesday, Matthew described the family’s shock. “It doesn’t feel real. Shellshocked. Devastated. It doesn’t feel real,” he said. “It comes and goes, thinking he’s here, then I know he’s not here. It’s a rollercoaster.”
The brothers and their father had set alarms for 4am on Saturday to cheer on the Socceroos. Matthew said that moment was especially meaningful because their father never watches soccer. “So all of us three were together watching it, and seeing Nathan smile — he loved family, and he was so happy in that moment,” Matthew recalled. “Even after the game, he was expressing to people that, ‘Oh, I watched the game with my brother, Matthew, and Dad — we were together’. He was so happy. And then he went to the game that he loves playing. So, he did everything that he loved.”
Freak Accident on the Field
Nathan suffered a head clash with a teammate and recoiled into the synthetic cricket pitch at Lalor Reserve. The match was abandoned as trainers and paramedics performed CPR and defibrillation for almost an hour before he was transported to The Royal Melbourne Hospital. The senior game was also called off.
Matthew revealed that Nathan had sustained several head knocks before Saturday’s incident and was playing through a shoulder injury. “He loved playing footy, and he was battling a sore shoulder, he probably shouldn’t have played,” Matthew explained. “I would’ve told him to rest, but nah, he wanted to play. If he could move it, he still wanted to play, so he was a tough cookie.”
A Beloved Teacher and Family Man
Nathan, a school teacher, was remembered as an “infectious” person with a “big, big smile.” Matthew said his brother was the life of the family and always expressed his love. “Any interaction you had with him, at the end, he would always say, ‘I love you’,” Matthew said. “He loved everyone, and he wanted everyone to succeed, even if he didn’t like you. That’s who he was.”
Nathan’s students also felt his warmth. “Nathan was a bit of a child himself, so his students were able to connect with him a lot,” Matthew added. “They had this connection, he had this gift that not many people have. He loved his job, it was what he was supposed to do.”
Faith Provides Solace
Matthew said the family is taking comfort in their religious faith. “Life is short but we remain strong in faith,” he said. “We take comfort in Lord God; he is our strength, he is our pillar. And I just want to say to everyone that’s listening that life is short and we never know when we’re going to step into eternity.”
