STORY UPDATED: check for updates below.
Was a man knocked down by a vehicle in Toronto identified as Rugby Union coach Ben Ryan or Lawrence Sichalwe or Sanath Jayasuriya or Kenneth Duremdes? And did he later die in hospital? No, that's not true: a fake news site that appears to be recycling the same death hoax but with different people made the claim but Ben Ryan denied rumors of his own death on Twitter shortly afterward.
The story originated from an article published by CBTV on June 5, 2019 titled "Man knocked down by vehicle in Toronto identified as rugby union coach Ben Ryan - Latest News" (archived here) which opened:
Man who was knocked down by a Honda Civic vehicle at the Toronto Mall last night sadly dies in hospital.
He passed away this morning - after sustaining serious injuries following the incident yesterday.
The man has been identified as Ben Ryan, English rugby union coach.The British High Commission in Canada has confirmed the identity of the 47 year old who won double honour at
The Telegraph Sports Book Awards, and said they were aware of his visit to Toronto, Canada.
Users on social media only saw this title, description and thumbnail:
Man knocked down by vehicle in Toronto identified as rugby union coach Ben Ryan - Latest News
Man who was knocked down by a Honda Civic vehicle at the Toronto Mall last night sadly dies in hospital. He passed away this morning - after sustaining serious injuries following the incident yesterday. The man has been identified as Ben Ryan, English rugby union coach. The British High Commission in Canada has confirmed the ...
Ryan denied his own death on Twitter:
Second time I've died via a fake news story. At least it isn't the drug trafficking arrest the last one talked about. I'm nowhere Toronto though hear it's a great spot, as long as you aren't around the out of control Honda Civics. #veilomani https://t.co/4Aj0n3dRC9
-- Ben Ryan (@benjaminryan) June 5, 2019
The site that ran the hoax apparently also ran the same story about cricket commentator Adam Gilchrist, Zambian Minister Lawrence Sichalwe, Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya and retired Filipino basketball player Kenneth Duremdes. We later also found the same hoax being spread about Luton Shelton and Desmond Tutu.
Updates:
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2019-06-07T11:53:07Z 2019-06-07T11:53:07Z Added links to same story about Luton Shelton and Desmond Tutu. -
2019-06-06T09:28:10Z 2019-06-06T09:28:10Z Same hoax was also run about Adam Gilchrist
