Rufus Brinson Jr., director of fire and rescue training and occupational health continuing education programs at Pamlico Community College, collapsed and died Friday afternoon at the end of a fire- training class on the campus.

Brinson was 50.

Brinson and instructor Richard McAdoo were refilling a fire truck that had been used in the class.

According to information from the college, Brinson was on his way to disconnect the hose from the hydrant when he fell to one knee and then collapsed. McAdoo called for an ambulance and tried to revive him with CPR.

Brinson died as he was being taken to Craven Regional Medical Center.

Pamlico Community College President Marion Altman, who lives near the campus, reached the scene before Brinson was taken to the hospital.

"I am simply beside myself. This whole college family is so shocked it is unbelievably hard to express the depth of our grief," Altman said later. "One thing is for certain, Rufus Brinson died in the line of service to this college and in the line of service to the citizens of Pamlico County."

Glenn DeMunck, dean of continuing education, said: "Firefighters came from all over North Carolina and southeastern Virginia to train here because of the quality of the programs Rufus created. But more important to us now is this unbelievable personal loss of a great friend to everybody in our department and to the whole college family."