Editor Skirmantas Malinauskas of the Žinių Radijas told reporters the tragedy was totally unexpected. In his words, Veselka, a member of the Order and Justice Party, showed no signs of health problems before he suddenly collapsed in the radio studio on Monday afternoon where he was due to take part in a live program. Veselka arrived at the studio by foot.
"Today at 12 PM late MP Julius Veselka had to take part in our program and he came to the studio and everything was just fine. He had no health problems but when we went up to the studio and there was a minute left until the live broadcast, he suddenly felt unwell and collapsed in the chair. The ambulance was called in immediately and it came in rather fast. Attempts were made to save his life but it was so unexpected for all of us and it's obvious that paramedics were not able to help here," Malinauskas said.
In his words, the ambulance arrived within around 15 minutes. The paramedics at the scene told reporters they had tried to resuscitate Veselka for half an hour, but unsuccessfully. They said they were called in because Veselka collapsed, and they refused to comment on a possible cause of death.
At round 1 PM, the Žinių Radijas informed Veselka's relatives and the public about his death. The police was also called in to the radio station.
"The family was immediately informed as well as fellow party members. We also tried to, until the ambulance arrived, to provide any possible help," Malinauskas said.
"It was very unexpected. It happened during a conversation and it was a matter of seconds. It was a very sudden and unexpected death," he added.
At around 1:50 PM Veselka's body was taken away from the radio station premises.
Veselka was a member of the Order and Justice Party. The party's leader Rolandas Paksas told BNS Veselka died of a heart attack.
Veselka was re-elected to parliament for the 5th tenure in October and was due to head the parliamentary Committee on Economics. He was not elected to parliament in 1996-2000.
Born in Ukmergė district on 8 February 1943, Veselka graduated from Vilnius University with a degree in economics, later worked as a lecturer and earned a PhD in economics in 1985.
After Lithuania regained independence in 1990, he started working at the Ministry of Economy and has been a member of parliament since 1992.
In October, Veselka won his mandate in Ukmergė single-member constituency, which will now have to hold new elections within the next six months.
Veselka was married, had a daughter and son.
