Former Widnes and Great Britain rugby league player, David Myers, 37, suffered a heart attack and crushed on the M6, which also cause the death of six family members. In an inquest, it was found out that Myers, who lives at Warrington had traces of amphetamine and anabolic steroids in his blood. These substances are believed to have contributed to his collapse. After his retirement, Myers had been working as a van driver and a nightclub doorman. During his career in rugby, he scored the match-winning try for Wigan in the Challenge Cup in 1991.

His partner Sarah Southern said he was fanatic in keeping his self fit and had no other choice but to work because he needed the money. She also said that she did not know that Myers is using amphetamines but he “may have taken things to keep him awake” because of his work. The night before his attack, Southern said that he complained about chest pains and tiredness. He also planned to see a doctor because of this condition. His partner also added that Myers is planning to return to playing rugby and had obtained a coaching certificate before the attack happened.

According to witnesses’ account, the van was overtaking vehicles northbound on the M6 before swerving and hitting a railway bridge at Bradwall Green located between Sandbach and Holmes Chapel. An hour later, David and Michelle Statham and their four children apparently died when a lorry ploughed into their car. According to pathologist Dr. Paul Simcock, Myers only had minor cuts in the head which was brought by the crash. But his heart was twice the normal size. Because of his chest pains the night before, it is believed that he may already begun to have an early onset of heart attack. “Given the degree of it in someone of that age and fitness, I felt amphetamines had indirectly contributed to death,” Simcock added.

Cheshire coroner Nicholas Rheinber also added that the collision is not the reason for his death. Myers had collapsed at the wheel and the crash into the bridge was only coincidental. He also recorded that Myers died due to natural causes to which amphetamine and anabolic steroid use contributed. The separate accident involving the Statham family happened 90 minutes after the crash of Myers’s van. The 40-tonne lorry of Paulo Jorge Nogueira da Silva hit the Statham car as it waited in tailbacks.

37-year-old Myers starred for Wigan between 1990 and 1992 and made 69 appearances and scored 38 tries. The spokesman of the club expressed his regrets over the death of Myers. “The winger will be remembered particularly for the 1991 Challenge Cup Final where he scored a vital try at Wembley to help Wigan defeat St Helens, 13-8. David also played for Bradford, Salford and Widnes.” Joe Lydon, the club’s performance director on the other hand, also paid tribute to Myers by saying: “David and I played in the same Wigan team in the early 1990s. It is such a tragedy to learn about this news and my thoughts are with his family.”

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