Noa van der Bij, partner of Netherlands and Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, shared an emotional public message regarding the loss of their stillborn son, Elijah, as reported by Mee Met Oranje. The couple experienced the heartbreak of losing their second child, with Van der Bij emphasizing that the infant holds a permanent place in their family.
A Symbolic Church Visit and Memorial Moment
Following the loss, Van der Bij and Gakpo visited a local church to light a candle before walking with their young son, Samuël, to a nearby playground adjacent to the building, according to reporting from cvandaag.nl. During the visit, the couple encountered another child named Elijah, a coincidence that Van der Bij described as a powerful sign of comfort reminding them that their baby boy remains close.
Such sad news. Cody Gakpo's partner Noa van der Bij has confirmed that their son, Elijah, has died during pregnancy. Our thoughts are with Cody and his family right now đ pic.twitter.com/4wEosDIQSh
Gakpo addressed the situation publicly on Instagram, stating that the circumstance is exceptionally difficult for his family. He requested privacy and space for healing while thanking the public for their understanding.
Support from the KNVB and National Team Colleagues
The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) issued a statement expressing deep sympathy for Gakpo, Van der Bij, and their son Samuël, calling the situation a deeply sorrowful private matter. Despite the family tragedy, Gakpo made the decision in consultation with his partner to remain with the Netherlands national team selection.
Netherlands teammate Brian Brobbey spoke about the squad’s response to the forward’s loss, noting that the entire team is rallying around Gakpo and attempting to support him through the difficult period.
Gakpo Draws Strength from Christian Faith
Gakpo has frequently spoken about his Christian faith in public settings, previously drawing widespread attention after Liverpool’s championship victory when he wore a shirt bearing the text “I belong to Jesus.” Columnist Hugo Borst remarked that Gakpo likely draws significant emotional and mental strength from his religious convictions during this period of grief.
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