WASHINGTON — An Army clinical staff nurse died Monday in Afghanistan as he was video chatting with his wife.

Capt. Bruce Kevin Clark, 43, of Spencerport, N.Y., died of natural causes, according to a spokeswoman at Beaumont Army Medical Center in Texas, where Clark was based.

Army officials are waiting for the results of an autopsy to determine the cause of death, but it was not combat related, the spokeswoman said.

“Bruce’s wife tragically witnessed her husband’s death during one of their regular Skype video chats on Monday,” Clark’s brother-in-law, Bradley Taber-Thomas, said in a statement on Friday. “At the time of the incident, the family was hoping for a rescue and miracle, but later learned that it was not to be.”

Clark is survived by his wife and two daughters.

He deployed with the 566th Air Support Medical Company in March, according to an Army news release. He joined the Army in September 2006 and was previously stationed at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii.

Clark attended the U.S. Army Medical Department Officer Basic Course and the Critical Care Nursing Course. His awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Medal.

Taber-Thomas said that Clark’s body was returned Thursday to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

“Although the circumstances were unimaginable, Bruce’s wife and extended family will be forever thankful that he and his wife were together in his last moments,” Taber-Thomas said.

hladj@stripes.osd.mil

Twitter: @jhlad

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