Battle of the bulge proves fatal for Thai cop

BANGKOK, Mar 23 (Reuters) A fitness drive ordered by Thai police chiefs proved too much for one traffic cop, who collapsed and died after running 600 metres (yards), newspapers reported today.

Senior Sergeant-Major Insom Kamla, 50, died of heart failure after keeling over in front of fellow officers only a third of the way into a fitness test at a running track in the northern city of Chiang Mai, the Nation newspaper said.

Insom's wife said her husband was generally in good health, although his sister disclosed he was overweight and suffered from high blood pressure and gout.

Thailand's brown-uniformed traffic police have long been noted for their ability to eat above their ability to direct traffic.

A report last year suggested nearly half of Bangkok's finest had high cholesterol levels, leading to a two-week ''Fight for 40 inches'' campaign to slim down pear-shaped patrolmen in the capital.

Since he died on duty, Insom could be considered for a posthumous promotion, the Nation said.

REUTERS SK SP1102