du plessis had to use his medical skills unexpectedly in 2009. in the early morning hours of 29 march, brumbies lock shawn mackay was hit by a car outside a durban nightclub, suffering a paralysing injury. du plessis was at the scene because he was helping brumbies players get back to their hotel after their match with the sharks; he helped mackay breathe and contacted emergency services, who stabilised him and rushed him to a hospital. however, mackay died from complications of his injuries several days later.