Rest in Peace McCarthy

[Qorx]

A member from an AFL team here in Australia died at the Flamingo Hotel in Vegas.

The Port Adelaide Football Club has confirmed that one of its players, John McCarthy, has died in Las Vegas.

Port Adelaide Football Club chief executive Keith Thomas said McCarthy, 22, died whilst holidaying with 10 other Port Adelaide players on an end-of-season trip.

The club understands McCarthy fell from the balcony of a high-rise hotel, believed to be The Flamingo, in the early hours of Monday morning.

McCarthy and his team-mates, who left for the United States on Saturday, were not staying at The Flamingo.

Thomas said McCarthy was not with any of his team-mates at the time of his death.

"We understand there were witnesses on the ground at the incident but have no details," Thomas said after talking to Victorian police.

The other Port players in Las Vegas were Travis Boak, Matthew Broadbent, Alipate Carlile, Brett Ebert, Hamish Hartlett, Tom Logan, Andrew Moore, Paul Stewart, Jackson Trengove and Justin Westhoff.

Thomas said he had to inform the other 10 players in Las Vegas over the phone about McCarthy's death.

"It was a great shock, very emotional and they are making arrangements to come back now," he said.

The Flamingo issued a statement earlier today saying a man was found dead near its south entrance at 5.40am local time (10.40pm AEST).

"He was transported to the University Medical Centre of Las Vegas, where he was pronounced deceased," a spokesperson said.

Devastating blow
McCarthy played 39 AFL games, including 18 for Collingwood after being drafted in 2007.

McCarthy was delisted by the Magpies after the 2011 season before being drafted by Port Adelaide in the 2012 Pre-season Draft.

The hard-running midfielder became a regular at Port Adelaide, playing 21 games for the Power in the 2012 season.

"John was a very popular player and embraced the club as we embraced him," Thomas said.

"He came into our footy club looking to reignite his career.

"He started like a bomb, looked fantastic and we had great hopes for him."

Thomas said the club was informed of the tragedy, which is still being investigated, around 9.30am.

McCarthy's name was withheld until Monday afternoon so his family members could be informed of the tragedy.

We'll wrap our arms around our players and their partners. We are doing that now. We'll be stronger for it.

Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas
Thomas said the main delay was trying to inform McCarthy's brother, Matt, who was also holidaying overseas.

Matt McCarthy, who along with father Shane played for Geelong, was notified only minutes before the press conference, Thomas said.

Port Adelaide general manager Peter Rohde is on his way to the United States to be with the rest of the travelling Power players.

Thomas said Rohde is likely to make contact with McCarthy's sister, who is in the United States, to work out the process of bringing his body back to Australia.

"Clearly there is an investigation going on, so it could be several days," Thomas added.

Banding together
Several Port Adelaide players and staff were told of the news earlier today at the club's headquarters at Alberton.

"We'll pull together. The players will pull together, they are all together now. It will strengthen us," Thomas said.

"We enjoyed a tough year on the field. We are in the process of looking forward to next year and this is a major, major setback emotionally.

"First thing is to make sure everyone is OK, that his parents are looked after, and his brother and sister.

Hug your kids and tell your family you love them. We've just lost the nicest guy and best teammate you could ever ask for. Too sad.

Port Adelaide midfielder Kane Cornes
"We'll wrap our arms around our players and their partners. We are doing that now.

"We'll be stronger for it."

Port Adelaide best and fairest winner Kane Cornes tweeted after the announcement.

"Hug your kids and tell your family you love them. We've just lost the nicest guy and best teammate you could ever ask for. Too sad."

Collingwood said the club would wear black armbands during their semi-final against West Coast on Saturday night.

Collingwood club president Eddie McGuire described McCarthy as sparkly-eyed with a great spirit and great love for his friends, his club and his sport.

"John was an exceptional young man in the prime of his life with the whole world ahead of him," McGuire added in a statement.

"We are devastated to hear of his passing, and our hearts go out to his loving parents Shane and Catherine, his family and friends.

"We are proud that John wore the black and white jumper and his contribution to our club will never be forgotten."

McCarthy was named as an emergency for the 2010 grand final and replay, which Collingwood won.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou described McCarthy's death as a "profound tragedy" and extended his sympathies on behalf of the football family.

"He was on an upward path," Demetriou said.

"And by all accounts, I think his career was at the early stages of taking off.

Rest in Peace!

[Kryptonite]

Wow, what an unusual way to go. RIP.

[Qorx]

Wow, what an unusual way to go. RIP.

Yeah. They said he sounded depressed moments before he died because he was on the phone to his girlfriend. He was probably on drugs and just jumped off. But let's not jump to conclusions. :)

[Kryptonite]

Hahahaha. :P