Super Netball news: Adelaide Thunderbirds star Latanya Wilson loses home, medals in gang attack

Super Netball champions the Adelaide Thunderbirds are in shock after star defender Latanya Wilson’s Jamaican home burnt down as part of ongoing gangland violence on the island.

The Adelaide Thunderbirds have virtually wrapped their arms around Latanya Wilson from half a world away after the star defender lost her family house in an arson attack in Jamaica.

Wilson’s family home was firebombed in an ongoing gang feud that has claimed several properties and left scores homeless in the tough downtown Kingston area.

The attack, part of a feud between the Darksyde and Gennasyde gangs, was part of a firebombing of three houses in Wilson’s street and left 30 people homeless, including about 15 members of her clan.

In an interview with the Jamaica Observer, Wilson said she was grateful to be alive despite losing everything.

“I have several different emotions. I am sad but I am more so grateful that I still have life,” she said.

“It is always a privilege to represent my country, myself and my family – the joy from that is unexplainable.

“This just goes to show that you can be at your highest point in life and the next moment you are at your lowest.”

Latanya Wilson (L) and Shamera Sterling celebrate the Thunderbirds Super Netball Grand Final triumph. Picture: Getty

The events came as a huge shock to the Thunderbirds, who learnt of the attack when Wilson posted to the team WhatsApp chat on Friday.

While Wilson and family members escaped unscathed, the young defender has lost almost everything, getting out with only the clothes on her back as well as her laptop and a bag containing her purse and passport.

Adelaide Thunderbirds chief executive Bronwyn Klei said the club was sending all their love to Wilson and her family.

“No question (our first thoughts were for her safety). I mean, when we first heard it … she put something in the WhatsApp group and you just can’t believe it,” Klei said.

“We go on to her pastor straight away and she’s been talking to Heidi as well.”

Heidi, is Netball South Australia staffer Heidi Sanderson, with whom Wilson lives when in Australia and someone she regards as her Adelaide “mum”.

Latanya Wilson lost nearly everything in the fire that claimed her family home. Picture: Getty

Klei said the Thunderbirds had already been in contact with Netball Australia about getting a replacement Super Netball medal for Wilson after she lost the award in the fire, along with her Commonwealth Games and World Cup medals, which Netball Jamaica will try to have replaced.

In an interview the Observer posted to YouTube, Wilson, standing in the charred remains of her family property, said she was feeling “several different emotions”.

“I think the key lesson in all of this is just to be grateful for life because one minutes you can be on top of everything and then the next minute you can lose everything in a quick second,” she said.

“I think for me, I’m just more grateful to have life and whatever I’ve lost in the fire is actually repairable where I can actually work and get them back.

“Jamaica can actually assist me in getting them back, so I’m grateful to have life.”

Latanya Wilson escaped the blaze with the clothes on her back, her laptop, purse and passport. Picture: Getty

Wilson opened up to Code Sports earlier this year about the growing up in downtown Kingston – the challenges and the rewards.

“I loved growing up in downtown,’’ she said.

“There is always something going on there. Such a diverse community and there is so much happening.

“I won’t say it’s like the best to raise a family, but it’s definitely the best where you can learn lot of stuff like how to be strong, how to just persevere at true challenges, and for me growing up in downtown Kingston have shaped me in such a way that I am so persistent in everything.

“Like, I’m not going to stop and I think if I was raised anywhere else, I might not have that quality about me; that thing that I possess that is so important.”

Klei said Wilson’s deeply religious beliefs would help her through.

“She’s deeply religious and that’ll hopefully see her in good stead and we’re sending all our love to her and her family.”

Several of Wilson’s teammates, including England international and T-Birds premiership player Eleanor Cardwell have posted messages of support and love.

Netball Jamaica has also started a GoFundMe campaign for the Wilson family which the Thunderbirds have directed supporters to.

Originally published as Super Netball news: Adelaide Thunderbirds star Latanya Wilson loses home, medals in gang attack