South Kingstown Man Dies During Triathlon in Matunuck

A 70-year-old South Kingstown man passed away Sunday morning while competing in a local triathlon.

Authorities say James Lawrence suffered what appeared to be a heart attack during the quarter-mile swim portion of the Crabman Sprint Triathlon Sunday morning at South Kingstown Town Beach in Matunuck.

Lawrence was brought by lifeguards to a support boat around 7 a.m., where event staff and emergency crews performed CPR before transporting him to South County Hospital, where he was declared dead at 7:52 a.m.