Jonah Lomu died of a heart attack linked to his kidney disease on the morning of 18 November 2015 in Auckland. He was 40. Lomu had lived with nephrotic syndrome, a serious kidney disorder, since he was diagnosed at the end of 1995, and he had a kidney transplant in 2004.
Interest in his life and death has returned in 2026 with LOMU, a feature documentary by Vea Mafile’o and Gavin Fitzgerald that reached New Zealand cinemas in August and September.
How Jonah Lomu died
Lomu died in Auckland on the morning of 18 November 2015. The night before, he and his family had flown back from the United Kingdom after a short holiday stay in Dubai. The cause was a heart attack linked to the kidney disease he had lived with for two decades.
He left his wife, Nadene, and their two young sons. His family life, including his three marriages and his mother Hepi, is covered in our article on Jonah Lomu’s wife and family.
Jonah Lomu’s kidney disease: a timeline
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1994 | All Blacks debut at 19 years and 45 days |
| Mid-1995 | Seven tries in five matches at the Rugby World Cup in South Africa |
| End of 1995 | Diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome |
| 1999 | Eight tries at the Rugby World Cup, taking his tournament total to 15 |
| May 2003 | On dialysis three times a week |
| 28 July 2004 | Kidney transplant; the kidney was donated by Wellington radio presenter Grant Kereama |
| 24 October 2011 | Inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame |
| 18 November 2015 | Died in Auckland of a heart attack linked to his kidney disease, aged 40 |
The diagnosis came only months after the 1995 World Cup, and he played the 1999 tournament with the disease. By 2003 he needed dialysis three times a week and was facing the prospect of using a wheelchair without further treatment. The transplant followed on 28 July 2004, with a kidney from broadcaster Grant Kereama.
How old was Jonah Lomu when he died?
He was 40. Lomu was born on 12 May 1975 in Pukekohe, Auckland, and died on 18 November 2015.
Funeral and memorial services
Two public memorial services were held: at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau on 28 November 2015, and at Eden Park on 30 November 2015. A month after his death, the New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association set up an independent trust, the Jonah Lomu Legacy Trust.
His record on the field
Lomu played 63 tests for the All Blacks and scored 37 tries. His 15 Rugby World Cup tries (seven in 1995, eight in 1999) share the tournament’s all-time record. He won the inaugural Super 12 final with the Blues in 1996 and also played for Counties Manukau, the Chiefs, the Hurricanes, Wellington, North Harbour, the Cardiff Blues and Marseille Vitrolles. He was a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
LOMU: the 2026 documentary
| Title | LOMU |
| Directors | Vea Mafile’o and Gavin Fitzgerald |
| Funding | $800,000 from the New Zealand Film Commission |
| Australian premiere | Sydney Film Festival, 13 June 2026 |
| New Zealand premiere | 1 August 2026, Civic Theatre, Auckland |
| NZ cinema release | Wider release in September 2026 |
The film follows Lomu from South Auckland to global fame, including his illness and personal struggles. Mafile’o said of the Auckland premiere: “This story belongs to our people. To premiere LOMU at home, in Tāmaki Makaurau where so much of Jonah’s journey began, is incredibly special.”
Lomu’s widow, Nadene, did not take part in the film. According to 1News, she took legal action in 2023 to block it, which failed.
Frequently asked questions
What was Jonah Lomu's cause of death?
A heart attack linked to his long-standing kidney disease, nephrotic syndrome. He died on 18 November 2015.
How old was Jonah Lomu when he died?
40. He was born on 12 May 1975.
What kidney disease did Jonah Lomu have?
Nephrotic syndrome, diagnosed at the end of 1995. He had a kidney transplant on 28 July 2004.
Who gave Jonah Lomu a kidney?
Wellington radio presenter Grant Kereama donated the kidney for his 2004 transplant.
Is there a Jonah Lomu movie in 2026?
Yes, the feature documentary LOMU by Vea Mafile’o and Gavin Fitzgerald. It premiered in New Zealand on 1 August 2026 at Auckland’s Civic Theatre, followed by a wider cinema release in September.
