Tunisian health minister dies of heart attack after charity marathon

Tunisia’s health minister, Slim Chaker, died of heart attack on Sunday after taking part in a charity marathon to help battle cancer, officials said.

Late Slim Chaker aged 56, had been taking part in the run in the coastal town of Nabeul on Sunday to raise awareness about cancer. He fell ill after running 500m and then making a speech at the start of a race.

“I have lost a brother and a colleague,” Prime Minister Youssef Chahed wrote on Facebook.

“He died doing a noble humanitarian act.”

Local media and internet users in the North African country reacted with sorrow to the passing of Chaker, a former adviser to President Beji Caid Essebsi who only took over the health brief last month.

“He has paid in blood for his patriotic work,” Tunisian magazine Leader wrote on Twitter.