Rugby great Anthony Foley died of heart failure

The unexpected death of Munster and Ireland rugby hero Anthony Foley in a Paris hotel was due to “acute pulmonary oedema” caused by a heart rhythm disorder, it has emerged.

An autopsy of the 42-year-old father of two found that the Co Clare man had suffered a build-up of fluid in the lungs that can lead to respiratory failure.

His death could “be linked to a cardiac problem”, the French prosecutor’s office said.