Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer
PORT ANTONIO, Portland:
JAMAICAN ARTISTE and finalist in this year's Popular Song Competition, Ruddy Thomas, collapsed and died during a stage performance in Port Antonio, last Saturday night. He was 54.
Mr. Thomas, who was at the time going through his set in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC)-organised competition, was brought on stage at about 9:30 p.m., and during a stellar performance - collapsed, leaving the estimated 8,000 strong crowd, stunned into silence.
During the confusion, appeals were made for medical personnel to come forward and render assistance - but to no avail.
"He was rushed to the Port Antonio Hospital where he was pronounced dead," said Hartnell Brown, deputy superintendent of police, in Port Antonio. "Detectives from the Criminal Investigative Branch (CIB) are still carrying out their investigation into the untimely incident," he said.
And during the incident, the show was halted for several minutes, but continued after the artiste was rushed to hospital. It was during a performances from one of the contestants, that popular disc jockey, Jerry 'Jerry D' Davy, made the painful announcement that the singer had passed on.
The Gleaner also learnt that Mr. Thomas was only recently released from hospital, where he was treated for a heart condition.
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