Dave Martin, a longtime AP photographer based out of Montgomery, Alabama, was taken to Emory Hospital Midtown after suffering a heart attack on the Georgia Dome field. He was pronounced dead, at 59 years old, early Wednesday morning.
"Dave Martin was an excellent photojournalist, a consummate and dedicated professional and a wonderful person," AP Vice President and Director of Photography Santiago Lyon was quoted as saying. "Wherever his work took him he made many friends and will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him."
Martin covered Hurricane Katrina, the Gulf oil spill and the 2011 Alabama tornadoes as well as Super Bowls, Olympics, Ryder Cups political conventions and conflicts in Afghanistan, Haiti and Iraq.
The picture of Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin getting the celebratory water-bucket shower from his players is one of the final images he captured.
Photo Credit: Dave Martin/AP Images
Alabama-based AP photographer Dave Martin dies after collapsing at Chick-fil-A Bowl [Al.com]