Manchester United Wes Brown star to abandon South Africa tour following sudden death of pregnant sister

Mourning Manchester United player Wes Brown is due to abandon a team tour of South Africa following the sudden death of his pregnant half-sister.

The footballer was 'stunned' by news of the sudden death of Claire Fallows, 36, on Saturday.

It is a fresh blow for the footballer, who is still reeling from the death of his father in February.

Claire Fallows, 36, the Manchester United player's half-sister, collapsed and later died in hospital.

She was three months pregnant and is believed to have had a history of heart problems.

She had collapsed twice in the previous week.

Mr Brown, whose father Bancroft died in February, received news of the latest tragedy to rock his family while on a pre-season tour of South Africa.

The footballer decided today to cut short  a Manchester United tour South Africa and fly home to be with his family..

A family friend said Mr Brown had been "stunned" by the death of his half sister, who worked for Asda supermarket.

He only discovered he had a secret sibling five years ago.

The family friend said: "Wes had only just got to know Claire and now he has lost her,' a family friend told the Sun.

'She was a down-to-earth girl who was not bothered that he was a Premiership footballer.

'She was more interested in the fact that she had found her brother.'

Fallows leaves a husband Tom and three sons aged one, 13 and 16.

Wes lives with his girlfriend Leanne Wassell, 32, in a £4million home in Prestbury, Cheshire, with daughters Halle, four, and Lilia, one.