A 60-year-old Pembroke woman became the first death in the 27-year history of the Bermuda International Race Weekend when she collapsed and died on Saturday.

Fitness enthusiast Emily Sherrita Every, of Tatem Lane, Pembroke, was taking part in the 10K charity walk when tragedy struck.

According to Police, Mrs. Every was found in a collapsed and unresponsive state after suffering a heart attack on North Shore between Penshurst Park and Store Hill in Devonshire around 10.45 a.m.

“She sustained lacerations to the left side of the body and was taken to King Edward Hospital by the St. John's Ambulance Brigade,” the spokesman said, adding Mrs. Every was pronounced dead at 11.43 a.m as a result of “complications from her injury”.

Members of Mrs. Every's family were too distraught to talk to The Royal Gazette last night.

But president of the Bermuda Track and Field Association, Judith Simmons, said she reacted with shock when told of the incident while officiating on Saturday.

“I didn't realise the full extent of it in the beginning,” she said. “I was informed by Inspector (John) Skinner who was on site. He simply wanted to know if he could find out the identity of the athlete that was wearing the number. He said there had been an accident and that I needed to go to the hospital.

“First I found out the name of the person and all the pertinent details as to their address and contact numbers to give to the Police. He asked me if I would take them with me to the hospital.

“I met with more Police officers there and the doctors and nurses and we waited. He (Insp. Skinner) had told me before I left the (National Sports) Stadium that he didn't think it looked that good. But I was in a state of shock to think that something had happened and someone was that seriously injured or hurt.”

Mrs. Simmons said she went to the hospital around 11 a.m. and tried to contact family and friends, but because Mrs. Every was known more commonly by the name Sherrita and not Emily it led to a slight confusion.

“Her form was filled out as Emily so we were calling out for anyone who had come to pick Emily up and not Sherrita so it took a little while,” she said.

“The Police then despatched a car to both her residence and to her husband's place of work to try and find someone there. They were successful at (her husband's) place of work and they brought him to the hospital and I was there with the Police and the nurses and doctors when the news came.

“I stayed with her best friend Brenda and her husband until her sons were located and assisted where I could and left about 1.30 p.m.”

Mrs. Simmons said she could not comprehend a tragedy such as this happening.

“It just doesn't seem real, especially when you heard what they (her family and friends) had to say - that she was a person who goes to the athletic club regularly and walks quite a bit and appeared to be in very good physical condition,” she said.

Mrs. Simmons said the BTFA offered its condolences immediately.

“We were there to help and support them in anyway we could at that point in time,” she said. “It's just a very, very tragic set of circumstances. No one really knows what happened and we are waiting to find out. I'm sure the Police have that in hand.”

Mrs. Simmons praised those that were there to help in the immediate aftermath of the incident.

“St. John's Ambulance did a fantastic job and actually my heart went out to one of the female attendants because she was very shaken up by the whole incident,” she said. “You expect a sports injury but not to this extent. It was very upsetting for everyone. I don't think anyone was untouched by what had happened. It was just a shock.”

Mrs. Simmons said thankfully because Mrs. Every had filled out her registration forms correctly it meant her next of kin could be traced as soon as was practicably possible.

Mrs. Every's death was the second incident dealt with by the BTFA and the St. John's Ambulance during the 10K.

“We actually had two incidents at the same time. Annie Richardson Wolffe came across the finish line and passed out,” said Mrs. Simmons, adding: “She is okay and was discharged around 2.30 p.m. that afternoon.”

Police are appealing for witnesses, in particular fellow walkers, who may have seen Mrs. Every collapse. They are urged to contact P.c.Terry Trott or P.c. Brian Robinson on 299-431.