‘Suspected suicide’ in Wainui case

The death of Sean Wainui is being treated as a suspected suicide, the coroner has confirmed.

The 25-year-old professional rugby player died on October 18 in Bay of Plenty.

The case was being treated as a suspected suicide, Coroner Louella Dunn confirmed yesterday.

Wainui was from the small settlement of Whatatutu near Gisborne and has ties to Ngā i Tū hoe, Te Ā itanga a Mā haki, Ngā Ariki Kaipū tahi, and Ngā ti Porou.

He spent most of his childhood in Auckland and attended Takapuna Grammar School.

Wainui’s widow, Paige, shared an emotional social media post on Monday, after he was laid to rest at the weekend at Te Wainui Marae in Gisborne.

She shared a video on Instagram of her getting a tā moko similar to Sean’s on her ring finger.

‘‘I don’t have the words right now or could begin to describe the feeling of losing you baby all I know is I don’t wish this on anyone,’’ she wrote in a message that accompanied the video.

‘‘I’m in absolute pieces and in so much pain knowing my whole other half to me has left this Earth.

‘‘But I will forever celebrate you my love for being the most amazing and incredible husband & father you were and the special years we got to spend together on this Earth.’’

She also thanked people for the ‘‘overwhelming support, generosity and aroha’’ they had shown her and her family.

Paige and Sean were married last year and have two young children, son Kawariki and daughter Arahia.

A Givealittle page launched by the Chiefs for Wainui’s whā nau has raised more than $270,000.