Former Leicester Tigers captain Hanro Liebenberg has revealed the heartbreaking family emergency that forced him off during the Bulls’ clash with the All Blacks.
Liebenberg was taken off after just 30 minutes at Loftus Versfeld.
There was no obvious injury.
But behind the scenes, the South African forward had received devastating news.
His newborn daughter, Liviah, had suffered a cardiac arrest in hospital.
Bulls boss Johan Ackermann immediately withdrew Liebenberg so he could leave the stadium and be with his family.
Heart stopped
Liviah was born on August 3 with a serious heart condition.
She required open-heart surgery in the week before the Bulls faced the All Blacks.
Speaking to South African newspaper Rapport, Liebenberg revealed just how quickly the situation became critical.
“She went in for open-heart surgery that Monday before the match,” he said.
“She was up and down health-wise the whole week, because that kind of surgery places enormous stress on a baby.”
Then came the emergency.
“Her little heart had stopped completely. They had to revive her and put her on life support. It was harrowing.”
Liebenberg immediately left to join his wife Danielle at the hospital.
‘Ready to say goodbye’
The situation became so serious that Liebenberg and his wife prepared themselves for the possibility of losing their daughter.
“My wife and I were ready to go and say goodbye to our daughter on the Sunday,” he said.
“We told ourselves we needed to make peace with it – that this was not meant for us.”
Thankfully, Liviah continued to fight.
Her condition eventually improved and, after spending more than a month in hospital, she was able to return home.
Family first
Liebenberg spent seven seasons in England with Leicester Tigers before returning to South Africa to join the Bulls.
The 30-year-old has now revealed that being closer to his family played a major part in that decision.
“They needed me,” he said.
“It is also one of the reasons why I came back to South Africa from England – because my family comes first.”
Liebenberg has since returned to action for the Bulls following what was an incredibly difficult period for the former Leicester skipper and his family.
