The Police community was plunged into shock last night after an officer collapsed and died playing in a rugby game.

Frantic attempts were made to resuscitate the 36-year-old after he suddenly fell to the ground yesterday afternoon during the match between Police and Mariners at the National Sports Centre, Prospect.

Stunned spectators looked on as the Police Constable was rushed from the field to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

The officer had not been officially named last night, and Police officials were yesterday starting the process of informing his relatives in the UK.

The officer is from Britain and is believed to have served in Bermuda at P.c. rank for just under two years.

The tragic events unfolded just after 4 p.m. during the second rugby match of the day at the Devonshire stadium.

Police officers and rugby players who had gathered outside the Police Recreation Club were in a state of shock last night. One officer said: "They say he just fell down on the pitch. Nobody touched him."

A Bermuda Police Sevice spokesman told The Royal Gazette: "Everyone is in a state of shock and mourning.

"The mood at Prospect can only be described as sombre as people try and understand what happened today. Everyone is supporting each other"

He said it was still too early to say how the officer died, but said the sudden collapse was not the result of any contact.

The spokesman said that Police rugby players trained in emergency resuscitation techniques had tried desperately to help the officer as he lay on the pitch. St. John Ambulance volunteers had also been at the scene.

The Island's rugby community was also left reeling last night.

Dave Worsfold, chairman of the Bermuda Rugby Football Union, passed on his sympathies to the dead Policeman's relatives.

He added: "It's a very sad day for rugby.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to this man's family."

Yesterday's tragedy on the rugby pitch is not the sudden sporting loss to hit the Island.

In August 2002, New Zealander Stuart Smith, 35, was killed off Coral Beach during the annual Around the Island power boat race. Mr. Smith's craft hit a wave before he was thrown from the boat as it flipped and landed in water.

In April that same year, motor mechanic Jason Matthew died in a go-karting accident. The 30 year old lost control of his go-kart at the Clearwater track, St. David's, in only his second day of racing.