Photographer Dave Martin dies after collapsing at Chick-fil-A Bowl

Dave Martin, a veteran photographer for the Associated Press, collapsed while working the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta on Tuesday night and died from an apparent heart attack, Georgia Dome officials said.

Martin, 59, was on the field after the game to shoot celebration photos after Texas A&M defeated Duke, 52-48, when he collapsed and received treatment from medical personnel on the field.

He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead early Wednesday.

“Dave Martin was an excellent photojournalist, a consummate and dedicated professional and a wonderful person,” said Santiago Lyon, AP’s vice president and director of photography. “Wherever his work took him, he made many friends and will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.”

Although Martin primarily spent his career in the southeastern United States, he traveled the world to shoot major sporting and news events, including the Olympics and the Ryder Cup as well as wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Said longtime colleague Jay Reaves: “He covered wars and a revolution, sports and tornadoes, the Alabama Legislature and presidents, and he typically had the best picture no matter what the event.”

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