West Coast AFL player Rhett Bazzo is being supported through another personal tragedy after his mother died in a boating accident in Perth’s south.
The body of 52-year-old Kylie Bazzo was recovered by police on Sunday night near Creery Island in the Mandurah estuary.
She was one of two women thrown from a boat which struck a channel marker guidepost a day earlier.
Fellow passenger Debbie Burdon, 54, was recovered from the water shortly after the incident but died at the scene.
Police say a 47-year-old man who was driving the boat was taken to hospital with serious injuries while a 54-year-old man was uninjured.
Bazzo lost his father, decorated WAFL player Steve Bazzo, to cancer in 2015.
The 19-year-old made his AFL debut last season after being drafted by the Eagles and has played nine senior games.
In a statement on Monday, West Coast said they were devastated by the news.
“The club’s players, staff and board extend their deepest condolences to the Bazzo family and are offering every support to Rhett, his sister Kameron and their loved ones,” the statement said.
“The club asks that the privacy of Rhett and his family is respected during this extremely difficult time.”
Fremantle Dockers forward Sam Switkowski earlier paid tribute to Bazzo during a press conference.
“On behalf of the Freo footy club, I just wanted to send our deepest sympathies to Rhett Bazzo and his family after the terrible tragedy that happened to his mother,” he said.
“I don’t know Rhett personally. I hear he’s a great fella and I’m sure a few of the boys have a close relationship with him.
“A terrible tragedy and it has a big impact on a lot of people.”
Ms Bazzo was the first woman to lead a WAFL club when she served as chief executive of the Peel Thunder in the early-2000s.
“The Peel Thunder Football Club is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Kylie Bazzo over the weekend and passes on our sincere condolences to Kameron and Rhett on the loss of their Mum,” the club said.
Mandurah Basketball Association said Ms Bazzo and Ms Burdon, a mother of three, had “watched on proudly” for many years with their partners while their children played representative and domestic basketball.
“Deb and Kylie volunteered their time for many years on committees and managing teams. They gave generously for this club,” the association said.
“Deb and Kylie represent so poignantly the spirit of this club, they are loved and will be missed so profoundly by many.”
A police investigation into the cause of the crash continues.
Assistant Superintendent Peter Morrissey said speed would be investigated as a factor in the crash but that it was too early to consider criminal charges.
