YOUNG Arnett Gardens defender Nico “Bones” Collins collapsed and eventually died at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) while training with the team yesterday morning.

Collins, 19, reportedly developed breathing complications during an early morning training session on the sands at the Cable Hut Beach in Bull Bay, St Andrew, and was rushed to the hospital where he died while undergoing treatment some time after nine o’clock.

Arnett’s interim coach and general manager, Richard “Charlie Chaplin” Bennett, told the Observer Collins had just finished jogging and was sitting with his teammates when he collapsed.

“The youth run then sit down and him just go backwards. It look like him travel with fits (Epilepsy). So we rush with him go KPH and by the time them start attend to him, them say him dead,” Bennett explained.

“Something wrong, something, wrong. The team want a spiritual awakeness,” he lamented.

Up to press time, there was no official word about the cause of death, but the demise of the 19-year-old player will weigh heavily on both players and management of the South St Andrew club, which is already burdened by an unprecedented poor run in the Digicel Premier League.

Arnett Gardens, who last Sunday suffered their 11th defeat from 22 games this season, are second from bottom in the 12-team competition with 21 points.

They currently occupy the second relegation spot, which recently prompted Fabian Davis to resign as coach.

Club president Patrick Roberts told the Observer it was very difficult to digest everything at this time.

Said Roberts: “When it rains it pours. First of all, we at Arnett Gardens would like to send our condolences to the late Nico Collins’ family. We just lost one of our former players affectionately called ‘Stenna’ (Junior Clarke) last Thursday, and Sunday, immediately after the Harbour View game, Rohan Reid was admitted into the University hospital complaining of headache. He was discharged yesterday (Monday)”.

“Then this morning we get the untimely death of Nico Collins. This is just too much for one club to bear at this time,” Roberts bemoaned.

Club chairman Dr Omar Davies, along with Roberts and other club officials, visited Collins’ family home yesterday to offer their condolences.

Only recently, Davies announced plans to introduce younger players into the ageing team, and Collins was one of them. The young central defender, started in two games this season and played in approximately 10 games last season.

Said Davies: “Because of our problems I had told Byron Earle, the coach of the Under 21s, to identify… youngsters and he (Collins) was one of the first named as one who could play in both leagues.”

Collins, a past student of Trench Town High, was well loved in his community and his untimely death will undoubtedly leave a void among family members, friends and teammates.

His death came as a shock to persons in the section of the community called “Pegasus” where he resided.

“Bones a mi real friend. Him always give mi ticket fi go match. Nico, we a go miss you,” said Keneisha McKoy, adding, “He was a jovial person; anything at all you say bout him nuh hurt him, a him that”.

“It’s unfortunate that a situation like this made us aware that we need experienced persons around us. I think it’s the lack of experience that might have caused his death because the practice of CPR would have helped, which I don’t think anyone had done,” said Antoinette Morant.

“Nico, you gone but not forgotten. He was a bright, caring, loving chap. It’s unfortunate that we had to lose him like this,” she added.

One man, who said he was the uncle of Collins was obviously upset and vented his anger as he tried to hold back the tears.

“A big embarrassing thing this. It could have happened to anyone a the ‘baller and the club a come talk bout my nephew sick. My nephew never sick yet,” he said angrily.

Merdel Gayle, who claimed she grew Collins from he was nine years old, said he was a healthy person as far as she was concerned.

“I never had to take him to a doctor yet. Him don’t drink, him don’t smoke, him don’t go dance,” said Gayle.

Meanwhile, Captain Horace Burrell, president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), yesterday expressed condolence to the family, teammates, friends and associates of Collins.

“As a parent and one who has lost a child, I know that it rips the heart out to lose a child and especially one at the prime of his life. I know it must be painful for his parents, relatives and club members, but know that we’re a family and we support you through your grief,” Burrell said in a release.