Joost denies needing oxygen to survive

Cape Town - Springbok legend Joost van der Westhuizen has taken to Twitter to deny reports he has been placed on oxygen to survive.

Despite Huisgenoot and YOU magazines quoting Joost’s brother, Pieter, as saying the 45-year-old former Blue Bull has been on oxygen “for a while”, Van der Westhuizen spoke of being "fine" and "still going strong".

Van der Westhuizen, who is also a former Springbok captain, was a key figure in South Africa's famous 1995 Rugby World Cup victory.

Van der Westhuizen retired in 2003 after donning the Green and Gold jersey on 89 occasions, scoring a then-Springbok record 38 tries in the process and is widely regarded as one of the game’s finest-ever scrumhalves.

Van der Westhuizen was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2011.

“Thank you everyone for caring. I just want to make something clear. I’m NOT placed on oxygen. I’m fine and still going strong!!!”, Van der Westhuizen wrote on Friday.

Thank you everyone for caring. I just want to make something clear. I'm NOT placed on oxygen. I'm fine and still going strong!!!

— Joostvdwesthuizen (@9Joost) January 20, 2017

Van der Westhuizenand family (Credit: Amor Vittone Facebook)