The family of rugby player Hoani MacDonald were flying from Invercargill to be by his side in Middlemore Hospital where he remains in a critical but stable condition today after collapsing during a game.
The Southland rugby player's fiancee Michelle Notman, their two young children and MacDonald's mother were flying from Invercargill to Auckland to be with him.
The 34-year-old was in an induced coma last night after collapsing during his team's ITM Cup semifinal against Counties Manukau at Pukekohe, the New Zealand Rugby Union said.
He was understood to have "flatlined" twice after he fell to his knees and had a seizure minutes before half time.
Pukekohe Volunteer Fire Brigade's senior station officer Graeme Wilson said MacDonald was talking to the team doctor when he had a "fit" and fell unconscious.
His condition deteriorated rapidly and he went into cardiac arrest just minutes after being stretchered off the field.
"It was pretty scary and definitely life-threatening for a while," Mr Wilson said.
"I could tell by the anxiety of the ambulance officers."
Ambulance officers used a defibrillator on MacDonald after CPR and a shot of adrenaline failed to bring back his pulse.
NZRU general manager of professional rugby Neil Sorensen said MacDonald's family and teammates were being supported.
The team manager remained with MacDonald overnight.
Yesterday, Southland head coach David Henderson said: "As coaches, we knew he was in some serious trouble before half time."
They had tried to shield the team to stay focused on the game so the medical team could do their work and play could continue.
"The Counties medical team were really helpful too," Mr Henderson said.
"Obviously in this situation everyone works together."
Henderson said MacDonald had previously been fit and healthy.
"There was nothing wrong with him. He's a great team man. He's very much a family man with two young kids."
He said all the team wanted was to make sure that MacDonald pulled through. "That's our focus at the moment."
