South African rugby: autopsy finds Lions lock Hyron Andrews died of natural causes (aortic dissection)
A French autopsy found that Lions lock Hyron Andrews, 31, died of natural causes, an aortic dissection. He was found at the team hotel before a Champions Cup match in La Rochelle.
Left 0 · Centre-left 3 · Centre 4 · Centre-right 1 · Right 2
Sources by leanFollow the moneyMore coverage
How each side framed it
Left-leaning outlets
Tributes and the facts of the autopsy (Independent, NYT).
Centre outlets
Centre-rated outlets headline it: “Lions player Andrews died from aortic dissection, autopsy finds” (Reuters); “Hyron Andrews: Former Sale second row died of natural causes - autopsy” (BBC News).
Right-leaning outlets
'Tragic rugby star… died in shower' (Sun). The Telegraph reports an aortic aneurysm.
Holding the paradox
Agreed facts
Former Sale lock Hyron Andrews, 31, who joined the Johannesburg-based Lions this summer, was found dead at the team hotel in La Rochelle before a Champions Cup match. A French autopsy found he died of natural causes, an aortic dissection, most likely on an aneurysm. His body is still to be repatriated to South Africa.
Where claims conflict
None of substance.
The paradox
A sports story with no politics in it, and every outlet says so.
Sources by lean
Balanced: the same number of articles from the left, the centre and the right (up to 3 each). The bar above still counts every rated outlet we found. Bias and factual ratings come from Media Bias/Fact Check. How we balance · All ratings.
Left 3
- The Independent
Hyron Andrews’ cause of death confirmed after tragedy hits South African rugby - Associated Press
South African rugby player Hyron Andrews died of natural causes, team statement says (paywalled or blocks bots) - New York Times
Hyron Andrews: South African rugby player’s death due to ‘aortic dissection’ – autopsy (paywalled or blocks bots)
Centre 3
Showing 3 from each side of 10 rated outlets (L 3 / C 4 / R 3). More coverage
Follow the money
Not yet researched. We haven't yet looked at who gains or loses financially from this story, or who funds the main voices on each side. When we do, we check company filings, the Electoral Commission donations register, lobbying registers, annual reports, InfluenceMap and OpenSecrets, and we apply the same checks to every side. How we follow the money.
Who owns or funds the outlets covering this story (10 outlets)
| Outlet | Lean | Ownership & funding (MBFC) |
|---|---|---|
| Associated Press | Centre-left | The Associated Press (AP) is a nonprofit news cooperative with a profit of $1.6 million in 2016. It also sells content to other media organizations. According to an article titled “ AP reports loss on one-time accounting charges,” t he Associated Press lost $74 million in 2017, and it states the reason as “mostly due to one-time accounting charges related to the federal tax overhaul passed late last year.” source |
| New York Times | Centre-left | The Ochs-Sulzberger family controls the New York Times through Class B shares. Since 1967, the company has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYT. Class B shares are those that are held privately. source |
| The Independent | Centre-left | The Independent is owned by Independent Print Limited, a company owned by the Lebedev family (Alexander Lebedev and his son Evgeny Lebedev). In 2017, Saudi Businessman Sultan Muhammad Abuljadayel bought a 30% stake in the Independent online newspaper. Advertising and subscription generate revenue for the paper..push({}); source |
| BBC News | Centre | The BBC operates under a Royal Charter. Oversight is managed by the BBC Board, and regulatory authority rests with Ofcom. source |
| News24 | Centre | Media24 owns and publishes News24.com. They publish several magazines, newspapers, and online publications in South Africa. Advertising and subscription fees generate revenue. source |
| Reuters | Centre | In April 2008, the British company Reuters Group was acquired by Thomson Corporation and formed Thomson Reuters. source |
| The Scotsman | Centre | JPIMedia owns the Scotsman. Advertising and subscription fees generate revenue..push({}); source |
| The Times | Centre-right | The Times and Sunday Times is owned by News UK (News Corp UK & Ireland Limited), which American News Corp owns. The owner and Executive Chairman of News Corp are Rupert Murdoch. Revenue is derived from advertising and subscription fees. source |
| The Sun | Right | The Sun is published by the News Group Newspapers division of News UK, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. The paper generates revenue through advertising, newsstand sales, and subscriptions. source |
| The Telegraph | Right | Telegraph Media Group (TMG) owns The Telegraph, which is owned by Press Acquisitions Ltd., which in turn is owned by Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay. In 2004, Twin Brothers Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay acquired the Daily Telegraph and the Sunday Telegraph from the Canadian media company Hollinger Inc. for £665 million. For a complete list of Board members, see here. source |