The former Australian netball captain has spoken about how Tania Dalton was always "the life of the party".
Former Silver Fern Tania Dalton died today after her family's decision to turn off life support.
She suffered from a brain aneurysm during a social game of touch rugby in Takapuna on Thursday, and was taken to hospital in a critical condition at Auckland Hospital.
Former Sydney Swifts captain Liz Ellis told Newshub today that while she will remember Ms Dalton as a "great competitor and opponent", more than anything she'll remember her as "always smiling".
"She was always the one on the opposition that you thought, yup, when this game is over I’ll have a chat to her and we’ll have a laugh" Ms Ellis said.
"She was funny, she was gregarious, she was the life of the party."
Today happens to be the birthday of Ms Dalton's husband Duane. The couple have three children; Tayla, Charlie and Matthew.
Family spokesman Chris Henderson confirmed the news of her death on Wednesday afternoon.
"It is with overwhelming sadness that I am here to share the news that our beloved T passed away today at 10:20am with her family by her side," he told waiting media.
"It's unbearably sad, but we're comforted in how big a life she led in her short 45 years.
"She lived as we might all strive to - never on the sideline, always in the action, bringing her A game as standard."
Her husband Duane says since her injury, Ms Dalton "had put up the fight of her life…but ultimately it was a fight she was unable to win".
A memorial service for Ms Dalton will be held at QBE Stadium, formerly North Harbour Stadium, on March 6.
On Tuesday afternoon, her family made the decision to take the 45-year-old off life support.
"It is expected that she will slip away when she is ready, anytime from now," the family said in a statement.
The decision was made following tests results which showed "massive blood loss" which lead to loss of oxygen to the brain for an extended period.
The damage was irreversible.
"The family had no choice but to allow nature to take its course," the statement said.
On Wednesday, the family thanked those who'd shown "the outpouring of love and support".
They also asked for privacy to "grieve and process events".
Ms Dalton played 12 tests for the Silver Ferns, making her debut against South Africa in 1996.
She was part of the world championship-winning side at that 2003 tournament in Kingston in which New Zealand defeated rivals Australia 49-47 in the final.
Back home, she played for the Northern Force, Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic and the Southern Sting.
Following her retirement from the sport, she became a netball commentator for Sky Sport.
Newshub.
