A Welkom young rugby player, Jaco Weideman (21), whose heart stopped beating several times on Saturday after he was possibly injured in a tackle, was transferred on Sunday by helicopter to the Bloemfontein MediClinic in a critical condition.
Weideman played in the annual rugby derby between Welkom Rugby Club (WRC) and the Welkom Rovers for Welkom Rugby Club’s second team on Saturday (02/07) at the Welkom Rugby Club’s fields.
Denise Kirsten, a physiotherapist from Welkom, says Weideman dived hard a few times during the game but only felt bad after he had come of the field after the game. He went to the medical staff for help. He vomited and she suspected he had suffered a heart injury and concussion.
He was admitted to the Mediclinic Welkom, where his heart stopped.
It is not certain how Weideman sustained the heart injury, but some of the spectators said in comments on Facebook that it appears as if he fell on the ball with his chest and that this blow may have injured his heart.
Weideman, a former pupil of Goudveld- Hoërskool in Welkom,’s condition was still critical on Monday.
Steps Pretorius, WRC head coach, says he was warming up with the first team when Weideman was injured and did not see what happened.
Pretorius, who is also a Boxsmart co-ordinator, says he will talk to eyewitnesses so that he can compile a report for SA Rugby.
