Mystery surrounds second British rugby player death in Sri Lanka after suffering breathing difficulties

Thomas Baty died shortly after Thomas Howard died with the same issue

Baty, 26, died on Tuesday (Getty)

A second British rugby player has died in Sri Lanka after being rushed to hospital with breathing difficulties, according to local police.

26-year-old Thomas Baty was taken to hospital on Sunday with teammate Thomas Howard, 25, after complaining of problems with their breathing, while on a tour of the country with Durham-based rugby team Clems Pirates RFC.

Howard died after being hospitalised on Sunday and Baty, who had been in a critical condition, died on Tuesday.

Mystery surrounds the pair’s deaths after their difficulties in breathing began shortly after returning from a nightclub in Colombo early on Sunday morning before complaining of issues to hotel management at about 10am later that day.

Durham City Rugby Football Club, which oversees the team, confirmed Howard had died after “suffering breathing problems”.

Nothing is known about why both amateur players suffered similar breathing difficulties, only that it happened after a tour game against Ceylonese Rugby and Football Club in Colombo.