Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this story contains images of deceased persons.

Phoenix Spicer’s cause of death has been revealed by his partner.

The former North Melbourne player died earlier this month at the age of 23 with rumours swirling surrounding his passing.

Days after his passing his family hit back to quash the misinformation before his partner, Ky-ya Nicholson Ward, took to social media to express her heartbreak at the tragic circumstances.

“I’ve decided to share what happened to my darling Phoenix, not because I have to, but because I want to raise awareness,” Nicholson Ward wrote on Facebook.

“Phoenix took his last breath on Friday the 2nd of January but he DID NOT take his own life.

“I found him … we tried with everything we could to save him but we didn’t know he was already gone. It was the most traumatic experience of my life.

“Days later we found out that Phoenix passed into the Dreaming from a sudden brain aneurysm. He never complained of headaches or showed any signs that something was wrong.

“Please, if you can, get checked and listen to your body. This can happen to anyone, at any time.

“My heart is broken.”

Spicer was selected to play with North Melbourne from South Australia in the 2020 national draft, and played 12 games for the Kangaroos.

His final game took place in round 14 of the 2023 season.

Spicer also played a role assisting Emma Bamblett with the design of the team’s 2023 Sir Doug Nicholls Round guernsey, which featured each of the team’s First Nations players’ totems.

He played 18 games for the VFL Footscray Bulldogs across the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

North Melbourne president Sonja Hood AM said: “Phoenix was only at the club for a short time but he was a popular and well-liked member of the playing group.”

“On behalf of the club, I would like pass on my condolences to Phoenix’s family and friends at this extremely sad time.”

A proud Nunggubuyu man, Spicer hailed from Numbulwar – a remote community in East Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.

His totem was a barramundi fish.

– with Alexandra Feiam, NewsWire

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