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Man dies from heart attack before pro-am in Dubai

REUTERS/Jumana El-Heloueh

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - A founding member of the golf club hosting this week's Dubai Desert Classic has died after suffering cardiac arrest while warming up on the driving range before the pro-am for the European Tour event.

The European Tour says in a statement the course at the Emirates Golf Club was closed on Wednesday following the death of Ashok Bakshi, who collapsed on the practice range and was transferred by air ambulance to a local hospital after being treated by the tour's chief medical officer. Bakshi died after receiving further treatment in hospital.

The pro-am was canceled.

The tour says Bakshi, who was a former captain of the club, was a ''hugely popular figure throughout the golfing community in Dubai.''

The tournament begins on Thursday.

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