Strawbridge family help raise thousands for Samoan hospital

Chiefs assistant coach and Manu Samoa technical advisor Andrew Strawbridge. Photo / Getty

Well-wishers of the stricken assistant coach of the Chiefs rugby franchise, Andrew Strawbridge, have donated more than $11,000 in under a day for medical equipment for Samoa.

Mr Strawbridge, who is now in Waikato Hospital in a critical but stable condition, arrived back on a medical flight from Apia on Friday after being struck down by a rare illness there.

He had gone to Samoa last week as technical adviser for the Manu Samoa national rugby side ahead of the All Blacks test.

But on Tuesday, the day before the test, he was admitted to Moto'otua National Hospital in Apia with an infection in his right eye which had deteriorated rapidly.

His family has since set up a Givealittle appeal for specific medical equipment for that hospital's intensive care unit, saying the hospital could use some of the love being extended to Mr Strawbridge by friends and the rugby community.

Laura Strawbridge, his wife, said today the family was thrilled to have raised so much money in such a short time.

"Thank you so very much to all of you kind people who are getting behind this appeal," she said.

The Samoan intensive care unit is headed by Middlemore Hospital physician Dr David Galler, who first treated Mr Strawbridge when he was admitted this week.

In her appeal on the Givealittle website, Mrs Strawbridge has asked people to: "Please help Dr Galler and his 'wonder' ICU team make it much easier to continue their amazing, compassionate work."

The money raised will help to buy medical equipment for the unit including a computer, syringe pumps, an echo machine, airways equipment, a dialysis machine, a vital signs transport monitor, and a portable oximeter.

The family has requested privacy as it remains focussed on Mr Strawbridge's recovery but had promised a further update on his condition this evening.