Exhaustive battery of tests fails to find a cause for Mark Briggs’s condition

‘They keep saying they don’t know what’s wrong with him’: Emotional rollercoaster for family as ‘fit and healthy’ sport-loving father struck down.

Rockhampton’s Mark Briggs is fighting for life in the intensive care unit of the Rockhampton Hospital.

Rockhampton father-of-four Mark Briggs was fighting fit a month ago. Today, he lies in the intensive care unit of Rockhampton Hospital sedated and ventilated, his blood pressure plummeting and his heart in irregular rhythm.

Mystery surrounds his life-threatening symptoms, with an exhaustive battery of tests failing to find a cause.

It has been a harrowing journey for 54-year-old Mark, and the emotional rollercoaster continues for his family.

Wife Sam said on Wednesday that Mark’s condition had taken a dramatic turn overnight and things were “not looking good again”.

Three weeks ago, the family was summoned to the hospital to say their final goodbyes.

Mark was breathing only with the help of a ventilator. He had myopericarditis, his liver was severely inflamed, his kidneys were shutting down and he had 12 litres of fluid on his body.

His heart was racing at 170 beats a minute.

He was not expected to survive the night and Sam, Mark’s four children and his mother were at his bedside, preparing for the worst.

“It was so confronting and there were so many tears,” Sam said.

Mark clung to life and was transferred to Prince Charles Hospital, where he spent almost two weeks in ICU.

According to Sam, doctors said the reason he had survived was that he was so strong and healthy; he had no pre-existing health conditions, he was a non-smoker and he was not on any medication.

Late last week doctors in Brisbane said that clinically, Mark was showing some signs of improvement and on Sunday, he was transferred back to Rockhampton.

Sam said that with the lack of a medical diagnosis, the family was now questioning whether the AstraZeneca vaccine could be responsible.

Mark had the first of his vaccinations on June 15, and just over a week later started to experience symptoms, which included back and chest pain.

His mother Ienis, who is in her 70s, had her first AstraZeneca jab three days after Mark and had no side effects.

“They keep saying they don’t know what’s wrong with him,” Sam said.

“They’ve done lumbar punctures, they’ve done bone marrow, they’ve done umpteen blood tests, blood cultures, lung lavages. Everything you can think of they’ve done, and they have no idea.

“But for us, for a fit healthy man who didn’t have any problems before getting that needle, that’s the only logical thing we can put it down to.

“They’ve said it’s been reported to the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) and they’ve got to investigate so that’s where we’re at at the moment.”

Discharge papers from Rockhampton list under the consultation notes: “COVID-19 Adverse Event Following Immunisation reporting completed”.

The TGA could not confirm if Mark’s case had been referred, and it was not included in the COVID-19 vaccine weekly safety report released on Thursday, July 15.

“Other than reporting on deaths that have been identified as linked to a Covid vaccine, the TGA does not comment publicly on details of individual adverse event following immunisation reports that have been submitted, in order to protect patient confidentiality,” a spokesperson said.

“The TGA strongly advises that no presumptions should be made about the causation or nature of events that follow vaccination until such time as there has been an investigation.”

Sam said the uncertainty around Mark’s condition was distressing.

“It’s pretty horrific. There are days where you’re bawling your eyes out, and the next day there’s some good news,” she said.

“Some things will improve, and some things will go backwards.

“He’s got incredible muscle wastage.

“Mark’s a proud, independent man but at one stage he was completely reliant on someone else to even move in his bed.

“There’s no real end in sight.”

Sam said she and the family was receiving incredible support from the Rockhampton community and beyond.

A friend in Cairns set up a mycause site, which has raised almost $12,000, and the Indoor Sports Arena in Rockhampton is also planning a fundraiser.

“Everyone has been amazing,” Sam said. “It’s been incredible, and we truly appreciate it.

“Mark’s a bit of a character and likes to have a joke with people.

“He’s hardworking and he’ll do anything for anyone.

“He loves all sports, and he loves watching his kids play sport.

“He’s mad on beach volleyball, absolutely loves rugby league and loves fishing and going out on the boat.

“Everyone that meets him loves him, he’s just that kind of person.”