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KINGSTON, Jamaica - Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer died this morning from either stress or a heart attack, his son says.
Woolmer died in hospital after being found unconscious in his hotel room.
His son Russell Woolmer told South African radio station 702 from Cape Town: "We've been speaking
to the doctors and they think it is either stress or a heart attack.
"There was a lot of stress in his job and it may have been stress that caused it.
"We're all very shocked and we don't know what to do. I've lost an amazing man to me."
Woolmer had seen his team crash out of the World Cup on Saturday after a shock Group D defeat by debutants Ireland at Sabina Park.
"The first time I knew of Bob's illness was when our assistant manager rang me Sunday morning and said the coach is not feeling well and maybe he is upset," said a shattered Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.
"When I went to see him he was lying on the floor and it was shocking for me.
"I will never forget him. He was a very good coach and a super human being."
Team spokesman Parvez Mir declined to confirm the cause of death or if Woolmer had died in his hotel room or hospital, but said: "Hotel staff found him about 1030. He was laid out on the floor, with mouth wide open and blood on the bathroom floor ... and there was vomit on the walls."
He also said Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was "totally shocked and bewildered" by the news.
Mir confirmed that Woolmer had been "perfectly fine after the game".
He said: "I had a very good chat with him and he was thinking about doing a number of things for Pakistan cricket. He had a lot of plans and wanted to go back and speak to the chairman."
The former England batsman was made coach of Pakistan in June 2004. The job of coaching the national team of the cricket-crazy country is considered one of the most pressurised in the sport.
In his stride
Woolmer, who has a distinguished career as a coach, appeared to take the three-wicket defeat to debutants Ireland in his stride following the match.
His contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board was due to expire on June 30 but it was widely expected he would part company with them after the World Cup which is scheduled to finish on April 28.
"I would like to sleep on my future as a coach," Woolmer said in Saturday's post-match news conference.
"It's what I do best, what I try to do best. Therefore I'm not going to throw away coaching just like that.
"However, internationally I will give it some thought. Travelling and being involved non-stop in hotels and so on takes its toll."
Team spokesman Mirin said in a prepared statement today: "Robert Andrew Woolmer has passed away today and the entire Pakistan team and management are shocked and saddened by his passing.
"His next of kin have been informed and we extend our deepest condolences to his family. The chairman of the PCB has also been informed.
"There will be a coroner's inquest and in keeping with Jamaican law an autopsy will take place into his death.
"Further information will be released by the PCB at the earliest opportunity once it has been received from the hospital."
Before turning to coaching, Woolmer played 19 tests and six one-dayers for England during the 1970s.
As news of Woolmer's death spread around the Caribbean, England team spokesman Andrew Walpole told reporters in Gros Islet, St Lucia: "Our thoughts are with Bob's family. This has come as a huge shock to all of the England team.
"He was a figure who commanded great respect within world cricket and he will be sorely missed."
Factbox: Bob Woolmer
*Born: May 14, 1948, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
*As an all-rounder, played in over 300 first-class matches for Kent, England, Natal and Western Province
*Made his test debut for England against Australia at Lord's in 1975 and played his 19th and last test against Australia, again at Lord's, in 1981
*Had interrupted his test career by signing for World Series Cricket in 1977, before effectively ending it forever by joining the rebel English South African tour of 1981-82.
*Voted Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1976
*Began his coaching career at Warwickshire before taking charge of South Africa where his pioneering use of computers aided two World Cup campaigns including a semi-final appearance in 1999.
*Following a spell as the ICC's high-performance manager, he was appointed coach of Pakistan in June 2004 and was contracted until the 2007 World Cup where Pakistan became the first country to be eliminated after defeat by Ireland on Saturday.
- REUTERS
