NRL star Kieran Foran opens up after his stepson’s suicide

Kieran and Karina Foran are desperate to get a message out following the tragic death of their son aged just 20.

Logan Steinwede (right) with stepfather Kieran Foran. Photo: Supplied.

NRL star Kieran Foran and his wife Karina suffered an unfathomable loss just last month - now they want to do all they can to prevent others going through their horrific experience.

Logan Steinwede, Karina’s son and Kieran’s stepson, took his own life aged just 20 while staying with his grandparents on the NSW Central Coast.

It came at a time when the family was celebrating one of the high points of Kieran Foran’s career, as The Daily Telegraph reports.

Playing his part in the New Zealand national team’s 30-0 thrashing of Australia in the Pacific Championship final, Foran checked his phone during the celebrations and found a message from Logan.

“It said ‘f**k yeh, Fozzy! Well done. Love you, brother’,” Foran said.

“That was classic ‘Loges’.”

Logan Steinwede (right) with stepfather Kieran Foran. Photo: Supplied.

Karina and Kieran Foran. Photo: Glenn Hampson

Returning to Australia from Auckland to commence a family holiday the following day, Monday, November 6, Kieran took a phone call from Karina’s parents, Chris and Karen Coulson, who Logan had been staying with.

It would change their lives.

“It was a complete shock for everyone in the family and I think everyone would agree,” Kieran said.

“No one ever in our wildest dreams thought Logan would get to that point in his life.

“You know your kids and step kids are struggling at certain times in their life, but you don’t ever believe you’ll receive a call to say one of them isn’t here anymore.

“Then I had to think ‘how do I tell a mother that her child’s just taken his life?’. How do you deliver that information?

“I thought I’d been through a lot and experienced everything, but nothing compares to that moment. Your world just collapses around you and it becomes a matter of holding on.”

Foran was part of New Zealand’s record-breaking Pacific Championship victory before his world came crashing down. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Logan was an accomplished surfer who had aspirations of turning professional before abruptly ending his young life.

More than 1100 mourners turned out in Erina, on the NSW Central Coast, a fortnight ago for his farewell, including NRL stars and Foran’s former Manly teammates Tom and Jake Trbojevic along with ex-Kiwis coach Michael Maguire.

Karina and Kieran, who has spoken about his own mental health battles following the break-up of his first marriage in 2016, are desperate to get the message out that suicide is never the solution.

“The message we want to get out there is that suicide is not the answer,” Kieran said.

“People, especially young men, need to understand that no problem is too big it can’t be solved and the people around you, who love you, will help you navigate your way through it.

“Reach out for help when you’re at your most hurtful and painful moment.

“It’s really hard to see that when you’re in the midst of it and I’ve been through my own s**t in life.

Foran in action for the Titans. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

“At times you feel like you can’t find a way out or a solution, but suicide isn’t the solution.

“Logan hated hurt, pain and seeing people sad. He would not have wanted this, he wanted everyone to be happy and the room full of good energy.

“We need to continue to remind ourselves of that.”

There were more than 3,200 suicide deaths in Australia last year – a rate of about nine per day of which seven are men, mostly young adults.

Karina wanted to stress that Logan would never have realised the hurt he was leaving behind.

“He would never have wanted the consequences of that action to be felt how they have,” she said.

“He would have never meant to hurt anyone, ever. He just needed a way out and unfortunately it was permanent.

“In that moment he was dark and he didn’t want it to be dark.

“There was no malice in that boy. He wouldn’t want the hurt and sadness. He would hate to think he’s left this residual emotion and altered our lives.

“I know that, but it’s impossible to accept it and be OK. I know he’d want other families to not have to go through this.”

For much more information on this story, you can follow The Daily Telegraph link here.