Quade Cooper pays tribute to young family member who took own life in response to online bullying

WALLABIES flyhalf Quade Cooper has made an impassioned plea after a 13-year-old member of his extended family took his own life.

MENDOZA, ARGENTINA - JULY 25: Quade Cooper of Australia fights for the ball with Juan Pablo Socino of Argentina during a match between Australia and Argentina as part of The Rugby Championship 2015 at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas on July 25, 2015 in Mendoza, Argentina. (Photo by Gabriel Rossi/Getty Images)

WALLABIES flyhalf Quade Cooper has made an impassioned plea to end online bullying after a member of his extended family took his own life in New Zealand.

Cooper posted two tweets on Thursday in memory of Kopani McIroy, who aged just 13 ended his life to escape the pain of online bullying.

Cooper’s tweets read:

RIP young Kopani.. As the pain and suffering of the gutless bullies eases may the love of your kind spirit live on.. #StopBullyingForKopani

— Quade Cooper (@QuadeCooper) September 16, 2015

Here's the face of a kid who thought the only way to stop the pain was to take his own life.. #StopBullyingForKopani pic.twitter.com/SrAtaQJFd9

— Quade Cooper (@QuadeCooper) September 16, 2015

Kopani’s Facebook page was inundated with messages from friends and family, while New Zealand’s ‘Riders Against Teenage Suicide’ organisation also paid tribute to the teen:

“KOPANI McIROY

“5th March 2002 — 15th September 2015. Aged 13 years.

“Bullying is the second most common cause of suicide deaths amongst our Teenagers and Youth. There is no important time than now to stop bullying which is a form of violence. What is it going to take for our Nation to change. Right now a Whanau is in mourning for their loved one. We must stop any form of violence

“Gone so young Kopani. May you find peace now. Our thoughts and aroha go out to the many people who will be affected.

“Mauriora

“Kahui

“Permission to use given by Faith Beckham.”

As a high profile athlete, Cooper knows only too well the powerful effect that online bullying can have on an individual and called on those responsible to end their destructive behaviour.

Australia's flyhalf Quade Cooper attends a training session.

“It just saddens me to think that a kid, at such a young age, could think that’s the only way, or the only option to stop bullying. It’s just brushed over so frequently,” Cooper, currently in Bath with the Wallabies, told Fairfax Media.

“I can remember playing totem tennis with him just a few years ago at my aunty’s unveiling (a Maori custom where a headstone is unveiled after a funeral). He really was just the nicest kid.

“People feel they can say nasty things but how can they know what damage is being done? For the people doing the bullying, there are no real consequences until something tragic happens.”

Cooper has said he will make no further public comment on the matter and is preparing for the Wallabies’ World Cup opener against Fiji on September 24.

Originally published as Quade Cooper pays tribute to young family member who took own life in response to online bullying