by Ganesh Sahathevan
The death of a of fully vaccinated Australian wrestler and powerlifter from COVID bears strong similarities to the case of a 16 year old Singaporean weightlifter who suffered cardiac arrest after his first COVID vaccination.
Reporting the incident Singapore's Straits Times said on 16 August 2021:
A 16-year-old boy who suffered a cardiac arrest after his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine is recovering steadily, and has received $225,000 under the Vaccine Injury Financial Assistance Programme (VIFAP).
This is the highest amount a person can receive through the programme.
The boy is currently undergoing inpatient rehabilitation and can perform his activities of daily living without assistance, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a statement on Monday (Aug 16).
The 16-year-old had collapsed at home following a gym weightlifting session on July 3, six days after receiving his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine.
He had developed acute severe myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, which led to the cardiac arrest.
MOH said last month that the teen had trained with "very heavy weights which were above his body weight".
As a result of the incident the Singapore Taekwondo Federation issued an advisory to all its coaches, strongly advising " to track.. athletes who have taken their vaccination, and plan...training for them safely and appropriately as well as monitor their training responses."
TO BE READ WITH
The death of a fully vaxxed champion wrestler and power lifter has triggered an outpouring of grief, and a warning to others not to take COVID lightly.
James Kondilios, a 23-year-old science graduate and champion power lifter who had no underlying medical conditions, died from severe COVID complications in a Sydney hospital earlier this week.
Mr Kondilios Australia at the Power Lifting World Championships in Finland, where he won a bronze medal in 2015. Credit: Facebook/FacebookHis friend Stephen Ma posted on Facebook of his grief and regret.
“I am so regretting that I didn’t take more photos with you, I am so regretting that I should hug you even harder when last time we saw each other,” he wrote.
“The last message you sent to me was “couldn’t ask for a better friend”. Likewise bro, the years I spent with you will always be a great part of my life, you will always be on my mind to delight me, encourage me and guide me. I will try to be a better person just like you bro, kind, sweet, nice to everyone and love everyone.”
Friends say Mr Kondilios’ death is a reminder COVID could not be treated lightly. Credit: Facebook/FacebookAnother friend, Julia Adamcewicz, wrote that Mr Kondilios’ death was a reminder that “even the strongest and wisest can be taken from this world before their time”.
“Yesterday was a reminder that this battle with Covid we have all been a part of for the last few years is not something to be taken lightly as even the healthiest people can be taken far too young,” she wrote.
The wrestling community has also expressed its grief, with both ACT Wrestling and the Sydney Uni Wrestling and Grappling Club posting tributes online.
Mr Kondilios represented Australia at the Power Lifting World Championships in Finland, where he won a bronze medal in 2015.
He also completed an advanced science degree at the Australian National University in Canberra and in 2019 was presented with a Science and Innovation award by then Agriculture Minister David Littleproud.
In 2019 James Kondilios was presented with a Science and Innovation award by then Agriculture Minister David Littleproud. Credit: Facebook/FacebookNSW is being ravaged by the highly infectious Omicron strain of the coronavirus, with 11 deaths recorded in Friday’s figures and 38,625 cases.
Mr Kondilios’ funeral will be held on January 13.
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