Probe into mystery deaths of British amateur rugby players during Sri Lanka tour

A second visiting English amateur rugby player has died in a Sri Lankan hospital after visiting a nightclub and police are now investigating the circumstances, a spokesman said.

Thomas Howard, 25, and Tom Baty, 26, developed breathing difficulties on Sunday morning after returning from the club in Colombo and were rushed to the main state-run hospital in the capital.

Howard died soon after admission, police said. Baty was transferred to the intensive care unit of a private hospital where he died on Tuesday, a police statement said.

“An autopsy on Howard has revealed that he did not die due to any external injuries or any illness,” said police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera.

The spokesman added that a judicial medical officer had given an “open verdict” on the deaths and “further forensic tests are being carried out”.