Canadian professor at KAIST dies suddenly

DAEJEON, May 6 (Yonhap) -- A Canadian professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has died suddenly, one day before his 46th birthday, police said Friday.
Christopher Surridge, who taught English at the top South Korean science university, collapsed at Seoul's Yongsan Station on Tuesday afternoon and was immediately sent to a nearby hospital where he died shortly, according to KAIST officials.
Surridge has been with KAIST as a visiting professor since February 2008
Police said they are looking into whether the professor was suffering from a chronic disease, and plan to conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of his unexpected death.
A memorial service is scheduled on Wednesday to pay tribute to him, officials said, noting a funeral will be conducted in his home country at the request of his bereaved family.
His death came after four KAIST students and one professor committed suicide this year.
ejkim@yna.co.kr