AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Leading New Zealand rugby player Hoani MacDonald was reported in a serious condition after suffering a heart attack during a national provincial championship match on Saturday.
MacDonald, who has played for the New Zealand Maori and Junior All Blacks teams and for the Otago Highlanders and Melbourne Rebels in the Super 15, was playing for his Southland province against Counties Manukau at Pukekohe, south of Auckland.
Spectator Charleen Bleach said MacDonald was some distance from play when he appeared to stumble. He tried to rise to his feet but fell back, clutching his chest.
Ambulance officers applied CPR for almost 10 minutes before using a defibrillator to revive MacDonald. He was taken to hospital where an ambulance spokesman said his condition was listed as serious.
