Komla Dumor, a BBC presenter in Ghana, has died, it was reported Saturday.
According to the Spy Ghana, he died after suffering cardiac arrest. He died in London during the morning.
He was 41 years old.
Umaru Fofana, a colleague with Dumor, wrote on his Facebook saying “BBC World loses an icon. Ghanaian born presenter Komla Dumor dies.”
“What is it about this life that we hate and envy others, do evil to our fellow man and wish others knelt down before us, when we will die in the next moment. What? Why?” he wrote.
The BBC confirmed that he died a few hours later after the Ghana-based reports.
BBC Global News Director Peter Horrocks described Dumor as a leader in African journalism.
“Komla’s many friends and colleagues across Africa and the world will be as devastated as we are by this shocking news,” Horrocks said in a statement. “The sympathies of all his colleagues at the BBC are with his family and friends.”
Dumor carried out coverage for major events, including the 2010 World Cup, the release of Gilad Shalit in Israel, the 2011 Norway mass shooting, and Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding.
He also covered Nelson Mandela’s death and funeral.
“Covering the funeral for me will always be a special moment. I will look back on it with a sense of sadness. But also with gratitude. I feel lucky to have been a witness to that part of the Mandela story,” he said.
On Twitter, a number of people tweeted “RIP.”
“Life has no guarantees...wow. Rest in peace Komla Dumor. Gone too soon:-(,” wrote one.
“Thoughts are with his young family and all BBC colleagues who had the privilege of working with him. What a huge loss @BBCkomladumor,” wrote BBC presenter Reshmin Chowdhury.
Added another: “RIP Komla Dumor. Such a great journalist and amazing man. If you haven’t checked out his TED Talk you really should.”
Tweeted another: “I am in shock hearing of Komla Dumor’s death. I was interviewed by him just 3 days ago. He was such a nice guy #RIP .”
