Jimmy Neesham has paid tribute to his high school cricket coach on Thursday after it was revealed he had died watching the climax of the Cricket World Cup final in hospital.
The family of David Gordon believe he breathed his last while watching his former pupil bat in the super over of Sunday's final at Lord's that saw England prevail over New Zealand on a tie-break.
Gordon coached Neesham, 28, at Auckland Grammar and his daughter Leonie Gordon told the New Zealand Herald that she believed her father would have enjoyed his final moments involved cricket.
"He has a quirky sense of humour and he was a real character and he would have loved the fact that he did that," she said.
Gordon had been in hospital since suffering heart failure five weeks earlier and his family had been warned he only had days to live.
Leonie added she had been told that her father's breathing had changed as Neesham hit a six in the super over as New Zealand tried to win the World Cup final for the first time.
"One of the nurses came in for the final over, the super over, and she said his breathing is changing," she said.
"You know, I think Jimmy Neesham had just hit that six and he took his last breath."
Neesham wrote a tribute to Gordon on Twitter on Thursday.
"Dave Gordon, my High School teacher, coach and friend. Your love of this game was infectious, especially for those of us lucky enough to play under you. How appropriate you held on until just after such a match. Hope you were proud. Thanks for everything. RIP."
