Former Irish Cricket Union (ICU) president Robert Kerr died of a suspected heart attack in Jamaica on Wednesday, the second fatality in four days at the Cricket World Cup.
Irish assistant coach Matt Dwyer said Kerr (68) died ”from what we believe was a heart attack”.
”He was with his wife on holidays and spent time with the fans,” Dwyer said. ”We last spoke to him after the Pakistan match and he was in good spirits. He wasn’t in ill-health.”
Kerr’s death follows that of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer, who was found unconscious on the floor of his hotel room in Kingston and died later on Sunday in a hospital.
Ireland beat Pakistan on Saturday in one of the biggest upsets in cricket history.
Jamaica’s deputy police commissioner Mark Shields said Woolmer’s death was being treated as suspicious. A 10-man forensics team was working on Wednesday in the 12th-floor room of a Jamaica hotel where Woolmer (58) was staying, though authorities have said nothing points to homicide.
Dwyer said Kerr’s wife, Hope, called hotel staff in the middle of the night and he died on the way to the hospital. Ireland coach Adrian Birrell said Kerr died at about 4.30am on Wednesday.
”He had a very big part in Irish cricket over the last six or seven years,” Birrell said. ”This is tragic news. Bob was a great ambassador for Irish cricket, and worked tirelessly.”
Kerr was president of the national cricket association in 2004 and chairperson from 2000 to 2002. He was an executive board member of the ICU and chairperson of the North West Cricket Union.
Kerr was staying at the Jamaica Sunset Grand hotel in Ocho Rios along with a large group of Irish supporters for the past week.
Ireland, making their debut at the World Cup, still have a chance to qualify for the second round. Their last group-D match is against the West Indies on Friday.
Joe Doherty, another former ICU chairperson, said the Irish cricket fraternity was stunned at Kerr’s death.
”Bob has given outstanding service to Irish cricket at club, provincial and national level, holding almost every senior position in the land with distinction,” Doherty said. ”His sudden passing will leave a big void in Irish cricket.” — Sapa-AP