South Kingstown man stricken during race, dies from heart attack

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. -- A 70-year-old local man died Sunday morning after suffering what appeared to be a heart attack during a triathlon competition at the town beach, police said.

James Lawrence, 70, was stricken around 7 a.m., police said, while attempting to complete the quarter-mile swim part of the Crabman Triathlon. He was treated initially by race staff and ambulance crews stationed at the beach before being brought to South County Hospital, where he was declared dead at 7:52 a.m.