A 17-year- old Muriwhenua, Northland, league representative has been left fighting for his life after a freak on-field accident in Rotorua stopped his heart.

Playing against Counties-Manukau in the National Maori League Tournament in Rotorua on Saturday Chico Paparoa was tackled before falling to the ground.

Kay Ratana, who was charged with caring for Paparoa on the team's trip, told the Daily Post there was no malice in the tackle.

"In the tackle he took a knock to the heart which made his heart stop. They revived him three times on the field, once in the ambulance and two or three times in the hospital," Ms Ratana said.

"Once we got him stable in Rotorua Hospital they ran some tests to establish whether it was a head or heart injury then he was choppered out to Waikato Hospital." His condition there is reported to be serious but stable.

- ROTORUA DAILY POST

By Katarina Williams