NBC news correspondant David Bloom dies while covering the Third Infantry Division

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NBC News correspondant David Bloom died Sunday morning, presumably of a pulmonary embolism. He was 39 years old. When he died, David was covering the Third Infantry Division, although his death was not combat related.

Neal Shapiro, president of NBC News said:

I am deeply saddened to tell you that our colleague David Bloom has died while on assignment in Iraq. While we don't have all the details yet, we do know that David collapsed this morning from what doctors believe was a pulmonary embolism; he never regained full consciousness. He was 39.

David Bloom was one of the best in our business. He was relentless in his drive to get the story first and get it right. He loved nothing better than being out front on a big story and during the last few weeks that is exactly where he was.

We extend our deepest sympathies to David wife Melanie and his three young daughters and we pledge to do everything we can to help them through the difficult times ahead. When we know how the Bloom family would like to honor David's memory, we will pass those details along.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press)