Mercenary and coup plotter Simon Mann dies9 hours ago Share Save Hollie Cole BBC News Share SaveAPFormer British Army officer and mercenary Simon Mann, who was part of a coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea in 2004, has died of a heart attack while exercising, friends confirmed. The 72-year-old made millions of pounds from protecting businesses in conflict zones before he took part in the failed attempt to overthrow the west African nation's ruler. Mann was sentenced to 34 years in prison on arms charges and later said he had been the "manager, not the architect" of the scheme. The plot had been an attempt to overthrow President Teodoro Obiang Nguema - at the time Mann and co-conspirators said the aim was to install exiled opposition leader Severo Moto. STR/AFP via Getty Images Simon Mann (second from left) said he had been the attempted coup's "manager, not the architect"