Jonah Lomu final interview: New Zealand legend said he aimed to live until he was 55 to see his sons reach 21

But he fell tragically short of the milestone after passing away on Wednesday morning

Jonah Lomu pictured earlier this year in May (Getty Images)

Jonah Lomu wanted to be alive to see his sons turn 21, the rugby superstar said in his final big interview, only four months ago.

But the All Black legend hero fell short of that target, leaving six-year-old Brayley and five-year-old Dhyreille without a father.

Lomu passed away at the age of 40 on Wednesday morning after a long battle with a rare kidney disease.

The wing, who played 63 Test matches for the All Blacks, had suffered from health problems since his retirement from the game in 2002 due to the kidney disease. A kidney transplant in 2004 fixed him for seven and a half years but his body rejected it in 2011.

"My goal is to make it to the boys’ 21sts," he told the Daily Mail in August.

"There are no guarantees that will happen, but it’s my focus.

"It’s a milestone that every parent wants to get to. My dad died young and that makes you think."