Fijian rugby player dies of heatstroke in Japan

**Fijian rugby player dies of heatstroke in Japan**

Fijian rugby player Simoni Vunilagi, who played for the Japanese team Kyushu, has died of heatstroke. Al Jazeera reported.

The 26-year-old athlete was hospitalized in critical condition in the city of Fukuoka after his team's regular training session. It is known that on the day of the training session, the temperature in the city was 35 degrees Celsius. Despite the medical treatment provided, the athlete died in the early hours of Friday, August 7.

Vunilagi graduated from university in Japan and began his professional career in 2023. The press service of the Kyushu club expressed deep condolences to the family of the deceased due to this loss.

In recent weeks, Japan has been experiencing an abnormal heat wave, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius. In particular, from July 20 to 26, about 18,600 people were hospitalized due to heatstroke, and 45 of them died. On average, 1,300 people in Japan become victims of heatstroke every year. Due to extreme weather conditions, the timing of a number of cultural and sporting events in Japan is being changed.

Recall that the highest temperature in the country (+41.8 degrees) was recorded on August 5, 2025.