NEW ZEALAND champion wood chopper Jason Wynyard has died following a brief battle with an aggressive form of cancer.
The Kiwi legend was diagnosed with stage four Burkitt Lymphoma in May and was pronounced dead on Wednesday morning.
AFPKiwi wood chopper champion Jason Wynyard has died from cancer at the age of 49[/caption]
GettyThe Kiwi legend was diagnosed with stage four Burkitt Lymphoma in May and was pronounced dead on Wednesday morning[/caption]
Wynyard is survived by his wife, Sharon, and son, Tai (25)Getty
Wynyard, 49, was surrounded by his loved one’s at home at the time of his death – including his wife, Sharon.
Wynyard won over a hundred world titles in wood chopping and claimed nine senior world championships in his time at the top of his sport.
He holds the world record for Single Buck (with assistant) with a time of 9.39 in 2007.
He was also recognised in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list in 2017, making him a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM).
A tribute was paid to Wynyard on the Rotorua Axemans Club this morning.
“In the early hours of Wednesday morning our Champion World Axemen and loved Club member Jason Wynyard lost his battle with cancer, he passed away with the love of his life Sharon by his side.
“Our hearts are broken. We send our love and condolences to all his whanau.
“Jason you will be missed.”
In August, doctors revealed that Wynard had only weeks to live.
Despite undergoing aggressive treatment, it failed to slow the spread of the cancer.
This was revealed in an Instagram post by his family.
It read: “The doctors tackled it with the strongest chemo protocol possible, and on August 18th, they told him that medically there was nothing more they could utilise to combat it and gave him weeks to live.
“Jason is continuing to do what he does best, and that is keeping his head in the game and keep fighting.
“He is now switching directions and is focused on an integrated approach to healing and is continuing his fight.
“He is using natural remedies, alternative therapies, and spiritual practices to boost his immune system, reduce inflammation, and enhance his wellbeing.
“He is also using a hyperbaric chamber, which delivers pure oxygen at high pressure, to improve his blood circulation and tissue repair.”
Born in the north island town of Te Awamutu, Wynyard is of Maori ancestry – an indigenous Polynesian people of mainland New Zealand.
He grew up in Kawakawa and was the father of former University of Kentucky men’s basketball player Tai Wynyard, 25.
Wynyard starred as himself in the TV programme: Stihl Timbersports World Championship 2018 – The Chase After Jason Wynyard.
Wynyard won over a hundred world titles in wood choppingRex
He claimed nine senior world championships in his time at the top of his sportRex
He holds the world record for Single Buck (with assistant) with a time of 9.39 in 2007Rex Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
