Tributes have been paid to a 28-year-old dad who died whilst playing in a rugby match Saturday afternoon.
Arturas Rudys ‘passed away’ while playing for Wisbech Rugby Club against Diss in the game on Saturday, according to his girlfriend.
His partner, Jolita Kiseliovaite, launched a GoFundMe page to support her and said they had been together for four years.
The incident
She posted: ‘We have been together four years, also we have a little child – Emilijus. He is only two years old.
‘My partner just passed away on the rugby competition in Wisbech.
‘It’s been very quickly and like in a dream.
‘Person from another team while running, hurt Artura’s chest or neck, after this he didn’t get up.’
Emergency services were called to Wisbech Rugby Club’s Chapel Road ground in Cambridgeshire yesterday, East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) said.
They said a player had suffered a cardiac arrest during the match.
It is believed he had just been involved in a tackle.
Responders carried out CPR and used a defibrillator but he could not be resuscitated.
An EEAST spokesperson said ‘Our thoughts are with their family and friends at this tragic time.
’Two ambulances, police, the air ambulance and the fire service were called to the scene.
The match between Wisbech and Diss in the Counties 1 – Eastern Counties league was abandoned.Flowers have been left at Wisbech Rugby Club today.
David Dobson, the Wisbech club secretary, said ‘The club is deeply saddened by the events of yesterday.
‘We are grateful for the support of the local community and the wider rugby community and also for the expertise of the emergency services who came to help.’
The incident has triggered an outpouring of grief and support from rugby clubs across the east of England.
The official report
Roger Pierson, from the Eastern Counties Rugby Union, said there had been a collision but that no head contact had been involved.
He said two of the Diss players who were medically qualified immediately went to the aid of the injured man but that he died on the pitch.
Mr Pierson described the tackle as a ‘rugby incident’ and said everything was being done to support all the players involved.
