Donations flood in to help girlfriend and son of Wisbech rugby player who died on the pitch

A fundraising page set up to help the family of a young rugby player who died on the pitch yesterday has almost reached its £5,000 target in just six hours.

Arturas Rudys, 27, died after a collision with another player during a match between Wisbech and Diss at Harefield Road.

Girlfriend Jolita Kiseliovaite set up the gofundme page this morning and it has already seen £4,865 donated.

On the page, she says the couple, who have been together four years, have a two-year-old boy, Emilijus.

She says: “It’s a very, very hard time for us right now.

“I can't give up, I have to live and show the right path to our child.”

A Wisbech rugby shirt has been attached to a tree at the ground, with a note pinned to it reading: “Arturas, our teammate, our brother, our 14 forever.”

David Dobson, secretary at Wisbech Rugby Club, said: "The club is deeply saddened by the events of yesterday.

"We are grateful for the support of the local community and the wider rugby community and also for the expertise of the emergency services who came to help."