'I am fine' - Pastor who collapsed at policeman's funeral was 'overcome with grief'

Pastor Paul Norman, who collapsed while preaching at Saturday's funeral for Constable Ricardo Fairclough in St Ann, says he is home and doing well. 

The service was held at the Ocho Rios Baptist Church. 

Norman, a pastor at the Kingdom Lighthouse Apostolic Ministries International, says he was overwhelmed with grief.

“I was okay until I started to sing the song 'What a Day That Will Be', and the overwhelming reality of the loss struck my mind and I lost consciousness. I recovered shortly after. I felt better before I left the church building,” he said.

He added: “The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) medical team said that I was okay but then suggested that I visit a doctor. The doctor's report stated that I am fine and it's just that I was overcome by a sudden rush of grief."

Members of the congregation were visibly worried as the incident brought an abrupt end to service. 

Norman started to stumble while delivering his message. He was whisked away by the JCF's medical team for treatment. 

In the meantime, Norman has remembered Constable Fairclough as an amazing person.

“He was a Kingdom builder; he was attentive to the various aspects of the ministry,” he shared. 

"So many of us have voicenotes of encouragement and inspiration and prayers from him. He would call persons who attended Kingdom Lighthouse and pray with them over the phone. He loved to pray and would spend hours in his car under a cherry tree at church praying or inside the Tabernacle all by himself praying."

Constable Fairclough, 45, was shot dead in St Ann in April as assisted a woman who was being robbed.

- Ashley Anguin

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