Boston Bruins NHL Star David Pastrnak Reveals 'Heartbreaking' Death of Newborn Baby, Insists One-Week-Old Son 'Will Be Loved Forever'
Boston Bruins star David Pastrnak announced that his newborn son has died.
On Monday, June 28, the Czech NHL pro shared a black-and-white photo of baby boy Viggo Rohl's feet to Instagram, revealing that he and girlfriend Rebecca Rohlsson lost their first child together on Wednesday, June 23, only six days after the lovebirds welcomed him. The athlete did not disclose his son's cause of death but asked the public to respect their privacy during this tragic time.
"Viggo Rohl Pastrnak June 17th 2021 - June 23rd 2021 🕊 We have an Angel watching over us and we call him SON. You will be loved FOREVER," Pastrnak captioned the photo, adding, "Please respect our privacy as we are going through these heartbreaking times."
After hearing of the couple's loss, his teammates and other hockey players as well as the Bruins organization reached out to offer the couple love and support. "We are heartbroken by the passing of David and Rebecca's son, Viggo. David and Rebecca are a part of our family and we share in their loss," the team's statement said. "Please keep them in your thoughts and respect their privacy during this very difficult time."
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"So sorry to hear," Max Talbot, a retired hockey player who once played for the Bruins, commented on Pastrnak's social media post. "I am so sorry for you guys brother," Oliver Kylington, a defensemen for the Calgary Flames, added.
Pastrank, a two-time All-Star, and Rohlsson announced in January that they were expecting a baby boy. A few months later, the 25-year-old opened up about putting his family first and preparing for fatherhood.
"You come home and you don't think about hockey at all, you obviously have other priorities," he candidly told NHL.com in May, noting that his career has been put on the back burner while the couple prepares for the arrival of their little one.
"You're getting ready for the baby, and we couldn't be more excited. So hockey's not been talked much lately at home and sometimes that's good, you know?" he continued, noting that he is "so excited" for his son's arrival.
"Family is always going to be No. 1, and at the end of the day — I'm grateful that I can live and work with a job that I love — but at the end of the day it's just a game," he concluded. "[My family] is always going to be No. 1."
