The late Russell Hodge and his girlfriend Julia share a happy moment on the balcony of his Fort James restaurant.

Businessman and proprietor of Russell’s Seafood Restaurant at Fort James, Russell Hodge passed away suddenly at his home yesterday morning.

Family members reported that Hodge complained of feeling unwell at about 9 am and shortly thereafter he collapsed onto his bed and died.

“We believe it was a heart attack but right now we will have to wait on the results of an autopsy,” one of Hodge’s sisters said yesterday. She added that the businessman had no pre-existing health problems that the family knew of.

Hodge who was reportedly 66 years old was the owner of Shirley Heights Look Out, but after business declined, he focused his attention on developing the restaurant at the Fort James location. He has been operating Russell’s for at least 10 years.

Meanwhile, Director of the Antigua & Barbuda Food and Drink Guide Gulliver Johnson, who had worked professionally with Hodge for the past seven years said he was indeed very sad when he received the news about Hodge’s untimely death.

“We are in shock at the news. (He was) a real friend and such a great contributor to society and country; a loss too soon,” Johnson said yesterday.

Hodge was instrumental in restoring the historic Fort James site which dates back to 1793. He was also responsible for the restoration of the now famous Shirley Heights Look Out in 1981.

Hodge’s body was moved to Barnes Funeral Home and an autopsy is expected to be conducted shortly.