Woolmer death is 'suspicious'

The death of Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer is being treated as suspicious, Jamaican police have said.

The 58-year-old died on Sunday hours after he was found unconscious in his hotel room at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in Kingston.

His death came 24 hours after Pakistan lost to Ireland in the cricket World Cup.

Jamaican deputy police commissioner Mark Shields said that there was "sufficient information to continue a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Woolmer, which we are now treating as suspicious".

Mr Shields was asked at a news conference if Woolmer had been murdered, but replied: "No, we're not saying that."

There has been much speculation surrounding Woolmer's death. A diabetes sufferer, he reportedly had recently complained of breathing difficulties.

His family are also understood to have revealed that he was suffering from stress, leading to fears that he may have suffered a heart attack.

However, other reports suggested that blood was found on the bathroom floor of Woolmer's bathroom, as well as vomit on the walls and signs of diarrhoea.

It has also been reported that Woolmer was found by hotel staff lying on the floor of his room with his mouth wide open.

Pakistan Cricket Board spokesperson Pervez Mir told a news conference: "Obviously 'suspicious' could be anything at this moment. It could be something serious, it could be something not serious. We have a man who is down and we don't know the reason why."

Woolmer appeared in 19 tests for England during his playing career and enjoyed success as a coach with Warwickshire and South Africa, before he was appointed coach of the Pakistan team in 2004.

(KMcA/JM)