Paul Kitsos, described in reports as "a morbidly obese would-be World Series of Poker competitor," died during his flight to the tournament. The event is held in Las Vegas, Nevada and he was on a flight to San Francisco, where he would connect to Sin City.

Sadly he wouldn't make it. Kitsos was on board United Airlines flight 863 that left JFK Airport in New York on Monday night when he was struck ill.


He suffered an apparent heart attack shortly after the plane left the airport and a doctor aboard the flight pronounced Kitsos dead at 6:23 p.m., reports the NY Post.

The plane would have to return to New York and emergency workers removed the body from the plane.

The Post has more on the life of the gambler. On the day he died, as he was on his way to a tournament, he was carrying more than $11,000 in cash, the paper reveals.