{"id":77027,"date":"2026-08-21T03:39:11","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T03:39:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/77027\/"},"modified":"2026-08-21T03:39:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T03:39:11","slug":"father-of-alleged-victim-at-centre-of-sydney-swans-saga-claims-she-suffered-medical-episode-before-seeking-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/77027\/","title":{"rendered":"Father of alleged victim at centre of Sydney Swans saga claims she suffered medical episode before seeking help"},"content":{"rendered":"

The woman at the centre of the Sydney Swans<\/a> scandal was forced to seek help after suffering a medical episode, her father has revealed to 7NEWS.<\/p>\n

The man said his daughter had been struggling to breathe but was not offered assistance, forcing her to leave the room and seek help from hotel staff.<\/p>\n

The woman and her father cannot be identified due to the nature of the allegations<\/a> currently being investigated. <\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

Police were called to the Pullman Hotel in East Melbourne in the early hours of Monday after a report of an alleged sexual assault involving members of the Sydney Swans playing group and three women. <\/p>\n

Five players \u00a0\u2014 Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon \u2014 have since been suspended, although the club has stressed those sanctions are independent of the police investigation.<\/p>\n

While the circumstances inside the hotel room remain under investigation, the father of one of the women in the room has now revealed his daughter suffered an asthma attack during the incident.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a lack of response to a medical episode that triggered the event,\u201d he claimed.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo assistance provided or care given. Subsequently it evolved to what it\u2019s evolved to.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think she was fine and then something triggered it. I don\u2019t know what triggered it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked about the reports of his daughter leaving the hotel room, the father said \u201cno help was forthcoming\u201d as she suffered the medical episode.<\/p>\n

He was also adamant his daughter was not seeking money as a result of the allegations.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, not in the slightest,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Her father said his daughter had initially responded to the situation with determination, at one point expressing a desire to join the police.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen it first started, she said, \u2018I\u2019m going to become a cop so I can get inside this insidious industry\u2019,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He said the events and their aftermath had since taken a significant toll on her.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s a strong thing in many ways, but she\u2019s very vulnerable now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Her father said he believed the situation may never have escalated had someone simply helped his daughter when she began struggling to breathe.<\/p>\n

Women involved fearing for their lives<\/p>\n

The crisis deepened on Thursday when one of the women involved told 7NEWS she was now fearing for her life.<\/p>\n

Victorian sex crime detectives travelled to Sydney to interview Swans players Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon, after a woman made a formal complaint to police.<\/p>\n

The players are helping with inquiries. No charges have been laid and 7NEWS is not suggesting any wrongdoing, only that there are allegations of sexual misconduct being investigated.<\/p>\n

7NEWS Melbourne\u2019s Mitch Cleary previously reported Victorian sex crime detectives who have travelled to Sydney for further inquiries are working off claims there were up to nine different men in the hotel room over the course of the night.<\/p>\n

The Swans insist only five of them were currently listed AFL players, and issued a further statement on the issue on Friday amid claims elsewhere.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Sydney Swans can confirm that all investigations carried out by the club have consistently indicated that the only representatives of the club in the room central to the police investigation were the five players who have been stood down,\u201d the club said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have every reason to consider that reports to the contrary are simply false. We are respecting the process with the relevant authorities and will refrain from commenting on police matters.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe would also like to take this opportunity to condemn some of the misinformation being reported and are now considering our legal position on those matters.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the police investigation continues, the woman who took the booking told 7NEWS she is already counting the cost of the saga.<\/p>\n

The woman said she and the exotic dancer at the centre of the sexual assault allegations have been identified online.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe woman told us they\u2019re now worried about retribution and fear for their lives,\u201d 7NEWS Sydney\u2019s Chris Reason said.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2019I\u2019m so scared … this is so dangerous for our safety,\u2019 she said.\u201d<\/p>\n

The players had introduced themselves as tradies, according to 7NEWS sport reporter Tom Morris.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen asked what they did for work, the players told the alleged victims they were carpenters,\u201d Morris revealed earlier on Thursday.<\/p>\n

If you or someone you know needs help, contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), or Sexual Assault Counselling Australia on 1800 211 028, the WA Sexual Assault Resource Centre on 6458 1828 or 1800 199 888 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.<\/p>\n

– With AAP<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Swans leaders admit club is in the dark on alleged scandal: \u2018Still trying\u2019<\/p>\n

4 min read<\/p>\n

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