Clubmates perform CPR after Jess Allen collapses while running water in men’s rugby game

A 21-year-old Rockhampton woman is in a critical condition in a Brisbane hospital after she collapsed while running water at a rugby game, with clubmates performing life-saving CPR on the sideline.

Jess Allen, 21, is in the intensive care unit of Brisbane’s Prince Charles Hospital after she collapsed and her heart stopped while she was running water in a senior men's rugby game in Gladstone at the weekend.

Young Rockhampton mum Jess Allen is in the intensive care unit of a Brisbane hospital after she collapsed and her heart stopped beating while she was running water in a rugby game in Gladstone.

The sideline at Briffney Creek Fields became a makeshift emergency ward on Saturday night as first responders performed CPR to keep the 21-year-old alive.

Jess, a popular member of Frenchville Pioneers Rugby Club and a member of its women’s team, was running water for the club’s A-grade men in their semi-final against Gladstone when the drama unfolded.

Frenchville president Vickie Hirsimaki said that as Jess ran off the field in the first half, she told one of the bench players she felt like she was going to faint.

Within minutes, she had collapsed on the ground. She was unresponsive, had no pulse and was not breathing.

Club members quickly swung into action.

Player and paramedic Alistair Vagg co-ordinated the life-saving mission while players Dan White and Daniel Gill and committee member Mark Brown started CPR.

Jess Allen with her daughter Amanii.

Mrs Hirsimaki said the Gladstone and Biloela clubs both had trained nurses in their ranks who also rendered assistance.

“Alistair rang the ambulance and we were lucky because he could tell them exactly what was going on because he had that medical knowledge,” she said.

“The ambulance was incredibly quick getting to the grounds and the ambulance officers were amazing.

“They performed CPR for about eight minutes.

“They got her to a stage of semi-consciousness and took her to Gladstone Hospital. From there she was medevaced to Brisbane in an induced coma.”

Mrs Hirsimaki said while confronting to watch, it was incredible how everyone responded.

“It was surreal because it was just the most devastating thing to happen to someone in our club, but it also showed the real humanity within rugby circles.

“Everyone just united and all they cared about was Jess… it was all about getting her through.”

Jess is in a critical but stable condition in the Prince Charles Hospital.

Her one-year-old daughter Amanii is being cared for by friends in Rockhampton.

Mrs Hirsimaki said Jess was reportedly showing signs of improvement.

“We’re all just thanking God that she survived,” she said.

Jess Allen (front, third from left) with her Frenchville Pioneers teammates.

“She’s 21 years old and fit. She plays four codes – rugby union, rugby league, touch and oztag – and is a rep player in most of those.

“She has had a heart condition from early in her life… and her heart just decided to stop working on the side of the field that night.”

Mrs Hirsimaki has been overwhelmed by the support flooding in for Jess.

“The whole Rugby Capricornia community were contacting anyone in the club they could, asking how they could help,” she said.

“We’re all rugby diehards but every rugby diehard values life more than their best rugby.”

Mrs Hirsimaki said club players Rebekah Asse and Kalani Heke set up a gofundme page for Jess and within two hours, it had raised $3500.

It under 24 hours it had reached $7500 and it has now topped $8500.

“We talk about how good or bad the world is, well right now I know there is so much good and there are just so many amazing people in Central Queensland,” she said.

“It gives you faith in the human spirit.”