Rob Kearney has been praised for bravely opening up about his brother’s tragic death.
During his appearance on The Late Late Show on Friday night, the Irish rugby star revealed his six-year-old brother Ross was hit by a truck back in 1988.
Rob explained: “He was hit by a truck. He and my older brother Richard were dropping a letter across the road. It was there first time crossing the main road, it was a big day for the two of them.”
“Dad gave them to letters to post and they found a letter on the way back that somebody hadn’t posted.”
.@KearneyRob speaks about his brother Ross, who passed away tragically in 1988.#LateLate pic.twitter.com/ZEwjDHgFIU
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) October 16, 2020
“They picked it up and came back into Dad and asked the question ‘What should we do with this letter’ knowing right well that thy could go on their second trip.”
“Ross ran ahead and he was hit by a truck, and the rest was history, as they say.”
Rob was just two-years-old at the time, and said he doesn’t remember the accident happening.
“I have no recall of it, fortunately and unfortunately. I haven’t had to endure the scars that Mum, Dad and Richard have had to,” he said.
“But there is a huge part of me as well that would have loved to have gotten to know him.”
The Leinster rugby star also revealed he shares the same birthday as Ross, and said: “It is really nice.”
“I don’t have any memories of our time together but I wake up on my birthday and he will always be the first person I think of.”
After Rob opened up about his brother’s death on The Late Late Show, viewers took to Twitter to praise the sports star’s bravery.
My heart just fucking broke. Very hard to talk about something so personal but Rob just speaking so honestly. Really great to see a man like him chat so openly. Hope all the boys watching see what a man looks like. #latelate #byebyetoxicmen
— Baz Ashmawy (@bazashmawy) October 16, 2020
Very sad & heartfelt story by Rob Kearney about the loss of his young brother Ross #latelate
— L Cowper (@LesleyCowper) October 16, 2020
Bawling here listening to Rob speaking about his brother Ross. Absolutely tragic #latelate #irishrugby
— Gillian Dunne #wearamask ffs (@Frecklesmahony) October 16, 2020