Hide-and-seek was never considered a deadly game. That was until three weeks ago when the game allegedly caused the death of a 78-year-old man.

THE WEEKEND STAR learnt that Bernard Chambers of Blen-heim, Hanover, died in hospital after he was rushed there when he had a heart attack.

It is said that the elderly man suffered the attack when a nine-year-old boy, who was part of a group of children playing hide-and-seek, jumped out at him and literally frightened him to death.

When contacted, Chambers' daughter Marie, 45, said doctors told her that her father going into shock could have triggered the heart attack.

According to Marie, the results of a post-mortem stated her father died of a myocardial infarction (heart attack).

THE WEEKEND STAR spoke with a medical doctor, who is not associated with the case and he explained that indeed, "it is possible to be frightened to death."

He said, however, that it is not necessarily because of the man's age but it would have more to do with the state of his heart.

In a description of what took place, Marie said, one evening she heard shouts of 'help' from the little boys who told her that her father had collapsed.

"Mi hear dem a bawl out seh papa drop dung, and when mi run go look mi see him pon di ground a hol him chest and him body a shake," she said, before adding, "All me nearly have heart attack same time to."

She said the family was not aware of the events which led to her father's death until later in the night when the boys declared what took place.

"Tru di rush fi carry him go hospital an ting nuhbody neva sure wa happen ... Wi honestly think di attack did jus take him ... Is when we reach back home after dem pronounce him dead and everything then di likkle bway dem tell wi seh is one a dem frighten him," she explained.

Marie said one of the kids told her he was hiding in an unfinished structure in the yard and her father came in.

Thinking it was one of his friends, the little boy said he jumped from behind a barrel and the elderly man fell to the ground.

Marie explained that the boys are not related to her but they live in a tenement yard and are pretty close to her family. As such she said there is no animosity.

"Honestly mi can't have dem up ... Mi jus have it seh is an accident, she explained before saying, "Him was like mi best friend, more time a him alone mi have fi talk to, me really ago miss him." She also described him as kind, loving and a very quiet man.