Jonah Lomu was a hero for those like me who live on dialysis. He will be sorely missed

A bonafide rugby hero, Lomu’s frank and humble attitude towards life with kidney disease made him a hero to many living on dialysis like myself. I can only hope his passing raises greater awareness of kidney disease

Former New Zealand rugby union player Jonah Lomu (C) and members of the Ngati Ranana London Maori Club take part in a haka (Getty)

I was shocked and deeply saddened to wake up to the news that rugby legend Jonah Lomu, had died aged just 40. His evident determination on and off the pitch made him a hero of the game, but his visibility as someone dealing with life as a renal patient was equally important to those living on dialysis such as myself. He not only inspired those going through the same daily motions and struggles as himself to keep going, but he highlighted to the world that kidney failure can affect even the biggest, bravest and strongest of us.

He had a similar attitude on and off the pitch with regards to anyone and anything getting in his way - try and stop him, he will run you down. In an interview released this August to the Daily Mail he said, "I have just never been able to accept coming second to anybody or anything, including an illness." His resilience in the face of this disease (a term I sometimes hesitate to use, as dialysis presents itself more as of a loss of freedom, rather than with debilitating physical ailments) was awe-inspiring and legendary. Although I am sure most renal-patients get up and get on with their day with, I would argue, a better perspective on life than most not suffering from a chronic condition, we do, inevitably, have our down times.

Lomu spoke again to the Mail in November, of the brutal reality of the daily effort that is needed to keep going: "It’s difficult. Every dialysis patient is different but we have one commonality: we have no other choice. Your second choice isn’t really a choice. It’s just you giving up." Although Lomu was important in presenting an optimistic and necessary attitude towards the disease, he was also helpful with his frank talking on the occasional down moments.

I mourn Lomu’s passing with added sadness, knowing he was one of a few prominent figures who spoke about his kidney disease and need for a transplant. Kidney disease is one of the biggest costs to the NHS, with one million people reckoned to be living undiagnosed with the disease in the UK. More and more, people are living with curtailed freedom on the transplant waiting list, yet few people would ever think about, consider being an altruistic donor, or even donate money to research kidney disease because awareness of the condition is so low.

Jonah Lomu was awe-inspiring and will go down in history as one of the greatest sportspeople of the last century. His legacy will inevitably, and rightly, live on. But I hope for the sake of millions of people living with kidney disease, that his words and actions in bringing awareness to kidney disease can be carried with it.