President of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Captain Horace Burrell, on behalf of the local football family, yesterday expressed condolences to the family and friends of former national invitee, Howard Fisher, who passed away on Wedneady. He was 24.

Fisher, a student at Montreat College in Western Carolina, fell ill during his Christmas holiday visit to Jamaica and was diagnosed with aplastic anemia — a rare and serious disorder in which the bone marrow stops making enough red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets for the body.

“It is truly sad to lose one in the prime of his life and almost without warning. He was so loved at his school who tried their best to get him back to the US for treatment and surgery,” said Captain Burrell.

Fisher, a former St Georges College Manning Cup player and who also represented Portmore United at Under-21 level, was a Journalism student who was due to return to the US on January 27 and was set to graduate on May 22.

He is survived by mother Hyacinth Fisher, father Adalton, three sisters and three brothers.