THIRTY-SIX-YEAR OLD Alicia Prince yesterday collapsed and died while participating in the annual Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run.

Yesterday, relatives told the Jamaica Observer that doctors at the Andrews Memorial Hospital, where Prince was rushed by medical personnel who were on the scene, said that she died from an apparent heart attack. Prince, an employee of the National Commercial Bank, collapsed on West King’s House Road — nearly a mile from where the charity race began on Knutsford Boulevard in New Kingston.

“She just drop down mid-flight. We all have to go test our heart,” said Myrna Cameron, who was identified by relatives as Prince’s mother.

Cameron and her relatives were assembled at the hospital outside a room where Prince’s body lay under a sheet on a bed.

Cameron, Prince’s siblings, and other family members had to dig deep for courage after being involved in a car accident on their way to the hospital.

All were shaken up when the car in which they were travelling collided with another on Half-Way-Tree Road, at the Beechwood Avenue intersection. It was at the scene of this accident they got confirmation that Prince had died.

There was much crying at the accident scene, but by the time they arrived at the hospital, Cameron ensured that her eyes were dry — realising that she had to be strong for her children.

She was overhead encouraging people to be strong in a conversation on her cellphone.

But the pain was too much for other relatives.

“Why God called her before me?” one of Prince’s brother asked. “I would take her place now.”

“This is so surprising; when mi get the news mi turn fool,” a family friend related.

Earlier on the accident scene, Darlon Brown, one of Prince’s friends, said participating in the Sigma Run/Walk was not new for Prince.

“She is a person who does it every year,” he told the Observer.

Morgan said that he did not get a chance to speak with Prince before the event, but was told by her co-workers that she was in good spirits and had planned an outing with them for later that evening.

Meanwhile, Sagicor Group Jamaica Limited has extended condolence to the family, Prince’s co-workers and friends.

“Our deepest sympathies are with Ms Prince’s family,” Richard Byles, president and chief executive officer of Sagicor Group Jamaica, said in a press release.

Byles confirmed that Prince had received medical treatment on the spot from a team that included a medical doctor, two emergency medical technicians and a nurse in one of several medical vehicles deployed along the route before she was taken to the hospital.

— Tanesha Mundle