Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Southland lock Hoani MacDonald has moved from the ICU at Middlemore Hospital in Auckland to a coronary care ward in what is another positive step in his recovery.
According to the Stuff.co.nz website, Rugby Southland chief executive Brian Hopley released the news, saying: "We are delighted to report that Hoani MacDonald has continued to improve overnight, and today will be moved from the ICU at Middlemore Hospital to a coronary care ward.
MacDonald has been in a fight for his life after suffering a cardiac arrest on Saturday.
Fifteen minutes into the provincial semi-final game against Counties Manukau in Pukekohe, the 34-year-old dropped to his knee when running across the field after a lineout.
When Stags physio Karl McDonald got to him, he looked to the sideline and tapped on his own head to indicate the player was groggy and could be concussed.
But when MacDonald tried to get to his feet and fell back to the ground, losing consciousness, it become apparent it was much worse as team doctor Peter Finlayson attended to him.
MacDonald was stretchered from the field and from there his condition continued to deteriorate.
It is understood he had a seizure and lost consciousness again.
He went into cardiac arrest just minutes after being taken off the field and ambulance officers performed CPR for almost 10 minutes behind a tarpaulin put up for privacy.
They used a defibrillator to revive MacDonald when CPR and a shot of adrenaline failed to bring back his pulse.
He reportedly "flatlined" twice as his heart stopped and he came close to death.
After 15 to 20 minutes he was stabilised and taken to Middlemore Hospital, where he was put into an induced coma.
MacDonald made his Southland debut in 2000 and played for the Melbourne Rebels in the Super Rugby competition before returning to New Zealand to play for the Highlanders and Stags this year.
According to the Stuff.co.nz website, Rugby Southland chief executive Brian Hopley released the news, saying: "We are delighted to report that Hoani MacDonald has continued to improve overnight, and today will be moved from the ICU at Middlemore Hospital to a coronary care ward.
MacDonald has been in a fight for his life after suffering a cardiac arrest on Saturday.
Fifteen minutes into the provincial semi-final game against Counties Manukau in Pukekohe, the 34-year-old dropped to his knee when running across the field after a lineout.
When Stags physio Karl McDonald got to him, he looked to the sideline and tapped on his own head to indicate the player was groggy and could be concussed.
But when MacDonald tried to get to his feet and fell back to the ground, losing consciousness, it become apparent it was much worse as team doctor Peter Finlayson attended to him.
MacDonald was stretchered from the field and from there his condition continued to deteriorate.
It is understood he had a seizure and lost consciousness again.
He went into cardiac arrest just minutes after being taken off the field and ambulance officers performed CPR for almost 10 minutes behind a tarpaulin put up for privacy.
They used a defibrillator to revive MacDonald when CPR and a shot of adrenaline failed to bring back his pulse.
He reportedly "flatlined" twice as his heart stopped and he came close to death.
After 15 to 20 minutes he was stabilised and taken to Middlemore Hospital, where he was put into an induced coma.
MacDonald made his Southland debut in 2000 and played for the Melbourne Rebels in the Super Rugby competition before returning to New Zealand to play for the Highlanders and Stags this year.
