Body of 80-year-old man found in his west Fort Worth home; he died of hyperthemia
Extremely hot temperatures were ruled as the cause of death of an 80-year-old Fort Worth man Saturday night at his home, making him one of the first heat-related casualties in Tarrant County, according to authorities and the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office website on Monday.
Another heat advisory is in effect from noon Monday until 8 p.m. Tuesday in Tarrant County, and other parts of North Texas.
Only one patient in critical condition from the heat was taken to a local hospital by MedStar on Sunday, but there has been a record number of residents who have suffered from heat-related illnesses since May 1.
The man who died on Saturday was pronounced dead at 8:13 p.m. at his home in the 4400 block of Geddes Avenue, according to the medical examiner’s website.
His cause of death was hyperthermia and officials ruled that the death was an accident.
Hyperthermia is an abnormally high body temperature, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Since May 1 until Sunday, MedStar has responded to 560 patients with heat-related illnesses, compared to 243 for the same time in 2021. That’s a 130 percent increase in patients, according to MedStar statistics.
Of those, MedStar has transported 409 to hospitals with 99 in serious condition and 24 in critical condition, said MedStar officials.
And the National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued another heat advisory for Monday and Tuesday in Tarrant County and parts of North Texas.
Temperatures will exceed 103 and heat index values will be 105
NWS officials in Fort Worth said hot temperatures and high humidity will increase the risk for heat-related illnesses to occur, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities.
This story was originally published July 25, 2022 at 8:18 AM.
