Football star dies aged 65 after devastating dementia battle
ok.co.ukFormer footballer-turned-rugby player John Bilbija has died at age 65 following a decade-long battle with dementia.The Australian star, who previously played for Balmain, Wests Magpies and South Sydney, died peacefully in his sleep at his Penrith home.
His ex teammate Wayne Innes told Channel Nine: "It's very sad but may have been a blessing in disguise because John was not the same guy we knew and loved." He added: "He personified toughness on the paddock but it doesn't matter how tough you are - once you contract this illness, it gets you all.
bA lot of former players are suffering from it and it's sad to see." Tributes have poured in for John online following the news of his death. "He will be missed, what a good man," one fan wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "R.I.P John rest peacefully matey," another said, while a third added: "RIP John Bilbija." John, who was diagnosed with early onset dementia at age 56, started football as a teenager before switching to rugby in 1978.
He was part of a wave of former players who developed dementia later in life. His wife of 43 years, Michelle, previously opened up about the devastating challenges that came with the debilitating disease. "We knew as he grew older he'd have arthritis and knee replacements - but we never expected this," she said. "It's got to the stage where he can't feed himself, can't talk, can't dress himself… he needs fulltime care.
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