John, 22, was holidaying in the United States with 10 team mates. The club was informed by US authorities in Las Vegas this morning that John had died as a result of injuries sustained in a fall from a building. The circumstances of the tragedy are still being investigated.
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Port Adelaide extends its deepest sympathies to John’s family, girlfriend and team mates, and is providing whatever support necessary to help them through this tragedy.
The other players in the travelling party are Travis Boak , Matthew Broadbent , Alipate Carlile, Brett Ebert, Hamish Hartlett, Tom Logan, Andrew Moore , Paul Stewart , Jackson Trengove and Justin Westhoff . These players are all safe and accounted for and arrangements are being made for them to return to Australia.
Port Adelaide general manager (football) Peter Rohde is travelling to Las Vegas to provide support for the players and to work with the US authorities and Australian consular officials.
John McCarthy played 21 games in his debut season with Port Adelaide this year after joining the club from Collingwood in the pre-season draft last year. He was drafted by Collingwood in 2007, having played 18 games for the Magpies from 2008-2011.
Port Adelaide chief executive officer Keith Thomas said the death was an enormous shock and a terrible tragedy for John’s family, partner and friends as well as for the club and the wider Port Adelaide community.
“John embraced Port Adelaide and we embraced him, and we are deeply shocked and saddened by his passing,” Thomas said.
“He was a very popular player among his team mates and our supporters. John played 21 of 22 games this season for Port Adelaide and was a valued member of our team who quickly won the respect and friendship of us all.
“He will be greatly missed by everyone at Port Adelaide and we extend our sympathies to his parents Shane and Cath, his brother Matt, sisters Frances, Elizabeth and Jane, his girlfriend Dani and his extended family and network of friends.”
The Port Adelaide Football Club is unable to comment further on the circumstances around John’s death while an investigation is underway.
We request that the media respect the privacy of John’s family, friends, team mates and club staff as they grieve during this difficult period.
