Rugby College: "My brother is fighter and has to make it, he has to": Heartbreaking Facebook ...

Jordan Kemp died on Sunday at 3.45pm after being placed on life support at Auckland City Hospital

The 17-year-old was injured in a rugby match in Whangarei on Saturday

He put in an induced coma at the grounds before being airlifted to hospital

He had only been back playing for five weeks after he was knocked out by a knee to the head at the start of the season

By

Emily Crane

Published:

06:39, 6 July 2014

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Updated:

08:26, 6 July 2014

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A teenage rugby player has died after suffering head injuries when he was knocked out during a match in New Zealand on Saturday.

Triplet Jordan Kemp, 17, was taken to hospital via helicopter after the incident during a game in Whangarei, north of Auckland.

He was put in an induced coma at the rugby grounds suffering from suspected bleeding on the brain, but died on Sunday afternoon at Auckland City Hospital.

Tragedy: Jordan Kemp has died after suffering head injuries during a rugby match in New Zealand on Saturday

He collapsed after a suspected head clash during a game between his club the Otamatea Hawks and the Old Boys Marist.

His sister Crishla posted updates on Jordan’s condition when he was put on life support on Saturday night following surgery.

‘They don’t think he’s gana make it over night. but my brother is fighter and has to make it he has to!!!!’ she wrote.

‘He’s the other half of me and god only knows the plan he has for my brother but don’t take him from us now!’

Jordan, pictured here with his sisters Michaela and Crishla, was put in an induced coma at the rugby grounds suffering from suspected bleeding on the brain

Crishla, who was in the helicopter with Jordan when he was airlifted to hospital, posted an emotional tribute on Sunday afternoon saying that he had died at 3.45pm.

‘The moment god took you from me… is the moment he took apart of me too,’ she said.

‘In the end your with us in spirit my bro I know you’ll always be watching over us and I love you soooooo much you have no idea my bro save a spot for me up in heaven for me.’

The teenager had been cleared to play five weeks ago after suffering a serious head injury at the start of the season, the Northern Advocate reports.

Kevin Robinson, the president of Jordan’s club Otamatea, was at the game and witnessed the teenager falling to the ground before getting back up on his feet.

The teenager had been cleared to play five weeks ago after suffering a serious head injury at the start of the season

‘He fell down but then got up and staggered around before falling over again,’ he said.

‘He was looked after immediately and the game was called off.’

Mr Robinson was also by Jordan’s side when he was knocked out by a knee to the head several weeks ago.

He had been ‘blue-carded’ at the start of the season – a system that gives referees the option to order concussed players off the field for three weeks – and had four weeks off from playing.

‘That was awful. It was not nice to see,’ Mr Robinson said, adding that Jordan had made a full recovery after the first hit.

He had been

He had been ‘blue-carded’ at the start of the season – a system that gives referees the option to order concussed players off the field for three weeks – and had four weeks off from playing

The Northland Rugby Union, New Zealand Rugby Union and the Rugby Foundation issued a statement on Sunday saying Jordan’s injuries and death were being investigated.

‘This is a tragedy for all concerned, in particular Jordanâ€™s immediate whanau and friends,’ the statement read.

‘Jordan was a young man with a passion for life and for Rugby, he was a great guy from an awesome family and will be sadly missed by all who knew him.