Heavily pregnant former Olympian, 26, suddenly collapses and dies of 'heart attack' in restaurant - but doctors manage to save her baby

              Homesick: Legesse hadn't been back to Ethipia in nine years and was planning a visit after the birth of her daughter

A pregnant former Olympic runner three weeks from her due date died after collapsing at a Connecticut restaurant on Monday, but doctors were able to save her baby.

Ethiopian runner Meskerem Legesse, 26, of Westport, Connecticut was with her two-year-old son at a Chinese restaurant on the 900 block of Dixwell Ave in Hamden eating lunch when she collapsed on Monday.

The eight-months pregnant Legesse was given CPR at the restaurant before an ambulance rushed her to Yale-New Haven Hospital.

Hamden Fire Chief David Berardesca says CPR efforts in the restaurant and ambulance allowed doctors to save the baby.

The Courant is reporting the young mother died of a massive heart attack, though no autopsy has been performed.

A friend, Fatima Sene, said the athlete had heart problems which were the cause of her retirement from sport.