Jamaica-born soldier dies in Kuwait

A Jamaica-born 17-year veteran in the United States Army died in Kuwait on Tuesday while on a tour of duty for less than a year.

Sergeant Hughton Coopie Brown, 43, was born in Kingston and attended Wolmer's Boys' School before migrating to New York.

While the circumstances surrounding Brown's death are unclear, his New York-based family was told by army officials that he went for a two-mile morning jog with colleagues when he collapsed and later died.

Brown's family pointed out that he had no known health problems.

A lover of motorbikes, Brown was an avid photographer and videographer, having owned a digital imaging company called 7MediaWorks.

"We are shocked and devastated as we were not expecting this," his brother, Duwayne Andy Tomlinson, told The Gleaner. "Our brother was a lively, healthy, vibrant young man, the life of the party, and we await more information from Kuwait on his passing."

Brown is survived by his parents, seven brothers, two sisters, three children, other relatives, and friends.