CHENNAI: South African junior

coach and manager

died in Chennai on Sunday after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 67. Prior was here as South African team's coach, who were taking part in the

.

He collapsed outside the Indian Squash Academy (ISA) while boarding the bus with his team.

Prior was immediately taken to Apollo First Med Hospitals in Kilpauk where he was declared dead on arrival.

"The South African team was leaving for the hotel around 1:30 pm on Sunday after playing a classification match that was going on at the ISA. Prior collapsed and was taken to the nearest hospital. There was an ambulance waiting just outside the academy, and we wasted no time. But unfortunately, he was declared dead on arrival," tournament director Cyrus Poncha said on Sunday.

"We are too shocked. The kids who were with him are in shock. The team was scheduled to leave Chennai on Monday morning. We are now trying to contact the South African embassy and the high commission. We are yet to ascertain how to go about it," he said.

Prior was born in Johannesburg, but his formative years were spent in what was then called Rhodesia. When

became independent, Prior played in two World Cups for his country.

After post-graduation, he returned to Zimbabwe to take over the reign at the Salisbury Sports Club from the then coach, Bill Clements. He came back to Johannesburg in 2003 to become a squash coach at the Wanderers Squash Club.