Sunjay Kapur has died at the age of 53.
The Indian-born billionaire was chairman of auto components maker Sona Comstar and passed away on Thursday (June 12), the same day an Air India flight carrying over 200 people crashed in the city of Ahmedabad.
Kapur’s final social media post was paying tribute to those who had died. He wrote on the day in question: “Terrible news of the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad. My thoughts and prayers are with all the families affected. May they find strength in this difficult hour.”
Kapur, a keen polo player, is believed to have been playing the sport in Windsor, UK, when he allegedly swallowed a bee.
It’s thought that this then sparked the 53-year-old — who is said to be friends with Prince William — to go into anaphylactic shock.
Sunjay Kapur, pictured with his wife Priya Sachdev, has died at the age of 53 (priyasachdevkapur/Instagram)
Per Mayo Clinic, anaphylactic shock is ‘a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction’.
“It can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure to something you’re allergic to, such as peanuts or bee stings,” the website adds. If this isn’t treated immediately, it can prove fatal.
Symptoms of anaphylactic shock include skin reactions; low blood pressure; constriction of a person’s airways; a weak and rapid pulse; as well as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Tributes have been rolling in for Kapur in the wake of his sudden passing. His business, Sona Comstar, said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened by the sudden demise of our Chairman, Mr Sunjay Kapur. He was a visionary leader whose passion, insight and dedication shaped the identity and success of our company.”
The late billionaire was a keen polo player (Qamar Sibtain/The India Today Group via Getty Images)
Elsewhere, someone close to Kapur told The Telegraph how missed he will be.
“He will be greatly missed not only by his family and friends but the local community around his club as he employed so many people and made so many friends – he was fun, kind and generous,” they shared.
“He didn’t distinguish between his grooms or high net worth friends – when he had a party, everyone was invited and everyone was equal.”
The billionaire was married to model Priya Sachdev at the time of his death. He’d previously been married to Bollywood star Karisma Kapoor, whom he shared two children with. He also shared a child with wife Sachdev, says Forbes.
