A RUGBY club official died as he was attending a game with his teenage son.
Kit Taylor, who was in his 40s, was found motionless in a car park at Holland Sports Club, in Barton under Needwood, just before noon on Sunday.
He was the deputy chairman of Ilkeston Rugby Club and father of a 17-year-old player from Ilkeston Colts, who were taking on Barton Rugby Club's under-17s side at the time.
Members of the public and nurses from Barton's cottage hospital rushed to help.
An air ambulance touched down at the scene but Mr Taylor was later pronounced dead at Burton's Queen's Hospital.
Barton Rugby Club chairman Dick Titley, who was at the game, said: "He dropped his son off to play rugby and it was noticed that he was missing on the touchline.
"He was found collapsed in the car
park. A number of supporters gave emergency first aid and a defibrillator was provided.
"It is very tragic.
"My heart goes out to his family."
It is believed Mr Taylor had been jogging near the sports club and was about to return.
Geoff Millington, chairman of Holland Sports Club, said: "His son was a substitute."
Mr Millington said he believed Mr Taylor had been jogging around the park and as he went back to the car, apparently he was taken ill.
Ilkeston Rugby Club said it was "devastated" in a statement posted on its website.
"Our thoughts and love turn to him and his family at this sad time," the statement said.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman confirmed the air ambulance had been sent to the scene to attend to a "medical emergency".
Mr Taylor's funeral will be on Thursday 20th November. There will be a service at St Mary's church on Ilkeston market place, followed by a private cremation at Bramcote Crematorium.
