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A "toxic reaction" between arthritis medication and alcohol has claimed the life of a young New Zealander who played for the Danish national rugby team.
Reuben Paniora died in his sleep on January 26 in his home near the Danish capital, Copenhagen.
The 32-year-old, who grew up in the west Auckland suburb of Massey, had been living in Denmark for six years and was a flanker for his adopted country.
He had his own sports management and dietary supplements company, which sponsored the national team.
"It was all about the rugby, really, with Reuben," said his mother Gloria, as she looked over photos of her eldest son on a table in her lounge.
Paniora visited New Zealand over Christmas, spending time with friends and family at Omaha, Tolaga Bay, and Hokianga, before returning to his home in Aarhus.
Only two weeks later, while on a conference with the Aarhus Rugby Club, Paniora had some drinks and complained of a headache to friends.
"He said he would go back to the hotel and sleep it off," said Graham, one of two younger brothers. "Then they found him in the morning."
An initial coroner's report says Paniora suffered a "toxic reaction" between prescription medicine for arthritic joints and the unknown amount of alcohol he had consumed that night.
His parents wanted others to be aware of the risk posed by mixing alcohol with prescription drugs.
"A lot of people do it, and some people get caught out," said his father, also called Graham.
"He probably had no idea what happened," continued Gloria, "but people should know you just don't do it."
The family are awaiting a further toxicology report to confirm the cause of death, but that may be up to three weeks away.
They were unsure what medication Paniora was on, "but he was always pretty on to everything," said Gloria.
"I just think, 'Why did you do that, Reuben?' "
Their son was well-known in Auckland rugby circles, after playing for Massey High and the Massey club.
"He was always the guy with the guitar in the changing room, or on the tour bus," said Graham. "He was great on tours."
Paniora had been living overseas for almost 10 years.
He moved to Spain to play rugby after completing his business degree, then to Denmark.
He married half-Danish, half-Spanish wife Camilla four years ago, and helped the Aarhus club grow from a single team to more than 20 squads.
In a posting on the club's website, he was given credit for ensuring a Danish victory over Switzerland in one of the 17 games he played for the country.
"[Paniora] will be missed by everybody in Danish rugby... the endless fighter with the sharp mindset, and the friend with the calm and good mood. Thanks for the game, Reuben - it was too short."
Friends in Denmark held a memorial service for Paniora on Friday, and his body will be returned to New Zealand on Thursday.
His wife and some close friends will make the journey to farewell him.
"We will have him at home for one night with us, and then he will be taken to Hokianga, where his father's family is from, to be buried," said Graham.
Flowers and tributes have flooded into the family home, and many of his friends around the world posted messages on Paniora's Facebook page.
