UPDATED 9.46pm: Chiefs Assistant Coach Andrew Strawbridge remains in a critical condition in Waikato hospital's intensive care unit.

Strawbridge arrived at the hospital just after 6pm this evening. 

He was sedated earlier today and deemed stable enough to travel home to be treated for an infection in his right eye which has rapidly deteriorated over the past three days.

An ambulance was waiting on the tarmac to transfer him to Waikato Hospital when he landed.

About half a dozen St John Ambulance staff helped lift and transfer Strawbridge onto a stretcher and into the waiting ambulance.

He was joining the Manu Samoa campaign as a technical advisor for Manu Samoa for the All Blacks test and was due to leave with the squad on Monday for the Pacific Nations Cup in the United States and Canada.

However, he took ill on Tuesday and an urgent call was put out for blood donors.

Chiefs head coach David Rennie thanked medical staff for their work so far and asked for privacy for Strawbridge's family.

An update on his condition are expected at eight am tomorrow.